Brian Lomax, the founding Father of the Trust Movement and co-founder of Supporters Direct,  is to rejoin the organisation as its Chair.

The new appointment won the unanimous backing of the Board and will
be welcomed throughout the Trust movement.  Brian, who was
responsible for setting up the first supporters’ trust at Northampton
Town in 1992, was Supporters Direct's (SD’s) first Chair and then Managing Director.

Brian is taking over the role from Andy Burnham MP, who has had to
resign as Chair of SD due to becoming a Minister of State at the Home
Office following the General Election. The Lomax and Burnham
partnership oversaw the extraordinary success of SD and the enormous
growth of the supporters trust movement now boasting over 120 members.

Speaking about Andy Burnham, Chief Executive Phil French said, “As
Supporters Direct’s co-founder Andy was a natural choice to take over
from Brian as Chair of the organisation in 2002, and should take
enormous credit for keeping it in existence during its funding
crisis. His commitment and leadership played a vital part in helping
supporters to play a responsible part in the running of their clubs
and showing how community control can deliver much needed financial
control and better corporate governance.

“As for Brian, his achievements speak for themselves and the legacy
he has already created is something to be richly admired; from what
he did at Northampton Town to save his own club, to his leadership of
Supporters Direct, giving hope to many supporters across the country
and overseeing the enormous growth and success of the trust
movement.  I am excited to be welcoming Brian back at such a pivotal
time for Supporters Direct and I am very much looking forward to
again working closely with Brian on helping many more trusts to
realise their aspirations to own their own football clubs.”

Commenting on his appointment, Brian Lomax said, “I am delighted to
be invited by the Board to return to Supporters Direct as Chair, at a
very exciting time in the organisation's life. My health has steadily
improved over the last two years, since having to step down as
Managing Director, and I feel ready for the challenges that this
voluntary post will bring.”