Following a recent press release from the club, in which chairman John Fry denied refusing to meet with the YTISA, the association has published the correspondence.
The YTISA would like to make it known that whilst the association is happy with the general outcome of last week's press release from the club, it is not happy with the entire content. A statement within the press release claims that it is 'entirely without truth' that representatives of the football club were unwilling to meet with representatives of our association.
In order to clarify the situation, the YTISA have decided to make public the correspondence surrounding this issue. When you read the enclosed letters, you will clearly see which party is telling the truth.
There are a few points the association would draw your attention to:
Letter 1 acknowledges that the football club are happy for the YTISA to continue the meat draw and thanks the association for its help towards club funds. However, John Fry's comments on Radio Bristol on Monday 4th December 2000 suggests that our association has no authorisation from the club to carry out the meat draw. This is clearly not the case.
Letter 2 shows that the YTISA wrote to John Fry on 24th August 2000 formally requesting a meeting at a mutually convenient time. It has been suggested that no formal requests have been made for a meeting.
Letter 3 is the football club's response to YTISA's letter of 24th August. It is on page 2 (point D) of this letter that the football club state the timing is not right for either the chairman of the club or supporters association members to meet with the YTISA until points A - C of their letter have been resolved.
Letter 4 is the YTISA response to letter 3, offering a position of compromise and negotiation from our association in order to attempt to resolve points A - C of letter 3. The YTISA confirm in this letter that the association would be happy to release a press statement making clear our position and requests further response from the football club. To date, no response has been received to this letter - some 12 weeks after the date of issue.
Therefore, from YTISA's point of view, the last correspondence the association has from the club notes their refusal at that time to arrange a meeting. As we have had no further comment from the club since this letter our association can only consider that the stance of the football club has not changed up until their recent press release.
The YTISA will now be writing a further letter to Yeovil Town Football Club in light of their press release requesting a meeting.
Sara Brimble
Secretary YTISA,
December 2000.
