Club Rules and Constitution 1 Objectives The object of the Club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of football. 2 Constitution The Club shall be affiliated to the Somerset FA each year and have Public Liability insurance each year. The Club will also follow current Child Protection guidelines through its designated Club Welfare Officer. 3 Club Members Club Members are players registered with Priory Pumas Football Club. They have no voting rights. Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex, disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of football as a particular sport. The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Clubs members and decided by a majority vote 4 Team Managers / Assistants All Club appointments including Team managers will be appointed by the Management Committee following current FA guidelines on recruitment and selection. Assistant Managers / Coaches will be appointed by Team Managers and ratified by the Management Committee. The Committee will have the power to terminate a Team Managers appointment but only on a majority of at least 75%. Managers are expected to attend the monthly meetings and if unable to attend they should send a representative. Failure to be represented at 3 consecutive meetings will require a personal explanation to the Management Committee. 5 Club Officers Club Officers shall consist of The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. A Club Officer may act as a Team Manager with the approval of the Club Committee.
6 Management Committee Club Officers and up to four co-opted members shall be known as the Management Committee. 7 Affairs of the Club The affairs of the Club will be managed by the Management Committee who will ensure the Club s Equality, Codes of Conduct, Disciplinary and Complaints procedures are applied fairly and equitably. 8 Rules Club rules can only be changed at an AGM or EGM. The proposed changes / additions, proposed and seconded, must be submitted to the Secretary at least two weeks before the relevant meeting. 9 Code of Conduct The Club shall maintain a Code of Conduct as agreed by the Club Committee. The Code of Conduct shall be signed by all Committee members including Assistant Managers. A copy of the Code of Conduct will also be signed by all Club Members and their carers. 10 Meetings Quorum. No meeting can be held with less than 7 members and 6 must be Team Managers. Committee Meetings can be attended by any Club member by invitation of a Committee Member General Meetings take place monthly on days notified by the Secretary. The Annual General Meeting will take place on a date notified in advance by The Secretary. An extraordinary general Meeting when called will take place immediately prior to the following monthly meeting. An EGM can be requested by any 2 Committee members, as proposer and seconder. The request must be given to the Secretary with agenda items at least 2 weeks before the next General Meeting. The Secretary will notify all Committee members giving at least 7 days notice of the intended meeting. 11 Agenda for Annual General Meetings 1 Roll Call 2 Apologies for absence
3 Minutes of last AGM 4 Matters arising 5 Chairman s report 6 Secretary s report 7 Treasurer s report and adoption of accounts 8 Fees for next season 9 Election of Club Officers 10 Motions for changes to Rules 11 Any other business 12 Conflict of Interests Should any member find themselves occupying a post in some other capacity which could conflict directly with the Club, that member should bring such an interest to the notice of the Club Committee which will decide on the course of action. 13 Playing arrangements Teams will be entered into competitions as decided by the Management Committee. Players will normally play within their age group. Team selection is at the discretion of the Manager. The colours of teams are cobalt blue and maroon in the style adopted by the Club. All Club teams will use the Club design and any variation is at the discretion of the Management Committee. If only I pitch is playable, age seniority takes precedence. County, FA or Cup fixtures take precedence over all other fixtures. All re-arranged Fixtures must be notified to the Secretary and Pitch Manager. Friendly matches must be booked through the Pitch Manager and are allocated on a first come first served basis. If a team wants to use a pitch for a home fixture other than Priory School, this will be at the discretion of the Management Committee or Chairman if not practical 14 Visits and Tours The Club encourages playing visits outside the County and reciprocal visits can take place at the discretion of the Club Committee.
15 Fees Annual registration, match and training fees will be agreed each year during the AGM. A player with an unpaid signing on fee by the end of September will be suspended from playing. At the discretion of the team manager non payment as a result of hardship or personal reasons is permitted. Chairman and Treasurer must be informed. Team Managers are responsible for collecting monies due. All monies collected must by handed over to the appropriate Club official without fail before the monthly meeting or by month s end, whichever is the earlier If a player falls behind in fee payments (level determined at AGM); a letter should be sent to the player s guardian requesting the amount due. If no response is received, the Team Manager, Chairman and Treasurer will decide on the next action. If no action is taken, the situation to be reviewed every two months. All Club monies collected must be handed to the Treasurer and recorded in the Clubs books. Under no circumstances are Team Managers or other persons are permitted to hold individual accounts. Monies raised for the benefit of a team must be handed to the Treasurer who will record the money as a credit to the Team. 16 Non-profit Making All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties. 17 League / SFA / Administration Costs If a Team or Team Member is directly responsible for a fine being raised, then that team will be responsible for payment in full 18 Resignation and Expulsion (a) A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of his/her resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than two (2)months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned (b)the Club Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. An appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time
to time. (c) A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the income and assets of the Club (the Club Property). 19 Club Finances (a) A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the Club Account ). Designated account signatories shall be the Club Chairperson, the Club Secretary and the Treasurer. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two of the three designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account. The Club Property shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club. The distribution of profits or proceeds arising from the sale of Club Property to members is prohibited. The Club Committee shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club (although a Club shall not remunerate a member for playing) and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club. The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away match expenses, post match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002. The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:(i) sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment (ii) employ members (although not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Club Committee without the person concerned being present (iii) pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests (iv) indemnify the Club Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets). The Club shall keep accounting records for recording the fact and nature of all payments and receipts so as to disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position, including the assets and liabilities of the Club. The Club must retain its accounting records for a minimum of six years.
The Club shall prepare an annual Financial Statement, in such format as shall be available from The FA from time to time. The Financial Statement shall be verified by an independent, appropriately qualified accountant and shall be approved by members at General Meeting. A copy of any Financial Statement shall, on demand, be forwarded to The FA. The Club Property, other than the Club Account, shall be vested in not less than two and no more than four custodians, one of whom shall be the Treasurer ( the Custodians ), who shall deal with the Club Property as directed by decisions of the Club Committee and entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence of such a decision. (i) The Custodians shall be appointed by the Club in a General Meeting and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting. On their removal or resignation a Custodian shall execute a Conveyance in such form as is published by The FA from time to time to a newly elected Custodian or the existing Custodians as directed by the Club Committee. The Club shall, on request, make a copy of any Conveyance available to The FA. On the death of a Custodian, any Club Property vested in them shall vest automatically in the surviving Custodians. If there is only one surviving Custodian, an EGM shall be convened as soon as possible to appoint another Custodian. The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the Club Property for all expenses and other liabilities reasonably incurred by them in carrying out their duties. 12 Dissolution (a) A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present. (b)the dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club. (c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to another Club, a Competition, the Parent County Association or The FA for use by them for related community sports