Legal helpline

We believe that Trusts should have access to the very best advice they can and given the focus of trusts on things off the field, that often involves legal issues. Many trusts though were worried about the costs of getting that advice and asked us to help them.


Legal helpline
We've worked with Cobbetts solicitors to provide every member trust with a free legal helpline to help with the sorts of queries that often crop up. The aim of the helpline will be to provide immediate answers - if something crops up which needs more work and can't be handled over the phone, then Cobbetts will be able to take it forward at a reduced rate for members of Supporters Direct.

Areas covered
The helpline will be able to advise you on the most common issues affecting trusts and clubs including:
company law issues affecting the club which impact on the trust - eg translating the legalese of a resolution for the club AGM into plain English

• the legal relationship between the trust and the club
• employment law issues affecting the trust
• property issues affecting the trust
• commercial contract or intellectual property issues or disputes affecting the trust

NB - queries regarding your existing trusts rules, or with trust procedures like Board meetings, election, meetings etc, should be directed to Supporters Direct in the first instance.

Using the Helpline
The service is only available to full member trusts of Supporters Direct; associate members and non-members may be allowed access to the site at the discretion of Supporters Direct.

To use the service, the trust should call 0845 165 5500 and they will get a Cobbetts lawyer to help with their issue. It is the responsibility of each trust to ensure that the facility is used by the appropriate member of the Trust board.

Cobbetts are not at this stage placing any limit on use of the helpline but as a rule of thumb most queries which cannot be resolved in 30 minutes are not suitable to be handled through a helpline and should be dealt with using the preferential rates arrangement.

Preferential rates
Cobbetts have guaranteed to undertake work for trusts - and clubs run by supporters' trusts - at 15% off their normal advertised rates. This covers the most common issues affecting trusts and clubs including:

• company and trust law, including complex constitutional changes
• acquisitions, disposals and investments
• employment law issues
• property issues
• commercial contract or intellectual property issues
• dispute resolution

The service is only available to full member trusts of Supporters Direct; associate members and non-members may be allowed access to the site at the discretion of Supporters Direct.


About Cobbetts
Cobbetts are the recognised experts in law relating to supporters trusts and co-operatives. Having developed the original model rules for Supporters Direct, their association with the trust movement makes them the natural choice as our legal partner.

They have also acted for trusts purchasing shares at the club, including acting the Trust at Stockport County in their takeover negoatiations, and resolving governance issues at the club and within the trust and have a unique understanding of the sporting environment in which trusts operate and the internal issues that affect trusts from time to time.