Members Only

Dagenham and Redbridge, one of the last 'member owned' clubs in the professional game, is set to finally go private after members voted in favour of a takeover proposal on Monday night.

The Daggers had been a Members club for decades, but had to become a Limited Company in 2007 to comply with Football League rules for promotion. Now it is set to move a step further by agreeing to that company changing from one limited by guarantee, and run by the members, to one limited by shares and run by shareholders.

Those shareholders are currently likely to largely be a consortium led by local businessman Glenn Tamplin which includes manager John Still and the club's Managing Director, Steve Thompson. Tamplin, who is reported to be involved in the steel industry, is claimed to be worth £45million and has offered £1.225million for an 73.5% stake in the club, with the existing membership - comprising about 70 members, of which 49 voted - taking the remainder.

The offer comes out of some desperation for the club, who are second in the National League table after losing their Football League place in the summer. Former manager Wayne Burnett still had to be paid off in stages following his December sacking, and attendances have dropped by a third from last season, sinking as low as 1,100 for the win over North Ferriby that put the club temporarily top of the league.

At the meeting, it is reported that Thompson told the room that the club wouldn't see out the season without investment, with Tamplin previously telling the DiggerDagger site in September it would be curtains in just two months, but Thompson apparently refused to offer any more detailed information before the vote.

That just 37 of the 70+ members voted in favour of the proposal puts into doubt the second stage of the transformation. The club needs a 75% majority to pass a second resolution, likely to come in two months once paperwork is in place, to allow the outside investment at actually happen.

Whether they will get that majority is open to strong debate among supporters. Many are questioning the lack of financial detail offered to support the takeover proposals. Financial figures have not been offered, and key questions about the investment have been brushed aside.

A handful of long standing supporters are actively protesting against the takeover proposals, largely due to the lack of clarity on what is being offered. It is hoped they get the clarity they need before the club heads to what could be a vote to save its life.