The club can confirm that Nigel Davidson has joined the CUFC 1921 Ltd board as the representative of CUOSC (the fans’ trust shareholder organisation).
Nigel joins as a replacement for Jim Mitchell, who recently stood down.
Click HERE to read the accompanying announcement.
Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “The club remains fully committed to being open and to having the best fan engagement possible, so I’m pleased to see fan representation continue on the 1921 board.
“The involvement of Jim Mitchell until his retirement from the board, and Billy Atkinson in his role on the Holdings board, has been invaluable in representing all of the fand at the same time as challenging the board, while dealing with a number of difficult issues.
“We hope to see that close and positive relationship continue with Nigel and Billy into the future. I have said before that a vibrant CUOSC, representing our supporters, not just its members, can help the club be more responsive to the needs of its fans and local community.
“By working together with the club in a positive way, it will challenge and change what we do, and help us be more successful. We will continue to work together with Billy, and now Nigel, to move the club forward.”
“We already fulfil most of the recommendations of the independent fan-led review,” he added. “I believe strongly that working together with fan involvement at the board table, and importantly with Carlisle United Supporters’ Groups (CUSG), helps to make the club better.
“It gives those running our club better insight on what fans think and a closer connection with a wider range of supporters. At the same time, it gives fans a first-hand, honest and direct perspective about the issues facing the club, our judgements and challenges, and an ability to have a voice in the decisions we make.”
Nigel Davidson, vice chair of CUOSC, said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the Supporters’ Trust representative on the 1921 board at Carlisle United.
“As a supporter of Carlisle United for over 40 years, to find myself in this position is incredible and I intend to approach it with the dedication and professionalism it deserves.
“Being on the CUOSC board as vice chair, on the CUSG Group as CUOSC Rep and EDI ffficer, I have always tried to work as hard as possible to bring the Carlisle United supporter’s voice into the football club and build that two-way relationship between supporter and club.
“I hope that in this position I can do this in an even more productive and effective way. It isn’t always easy because we are a football supporter-base like any other, full of differing opinions on everything from tactics, to hospitality, to players, to the manager, to the kit and all sorts of other areas.
“It’s a challenge to bring together a supporter base, but one I am looking forward to. We all fundamentally have the same aim and that is to see Carlisle United achieve success on and off the field.
“One thing I will say is that I will be available to talk to supporters on any subject within that remit, which also goes for my existing CUOSC and CUSG responsibilities. I have some big shoes to fill as Jim Mitchell was an excellent representative on the board.
“I’m looking forward to the new season with a real sense of optimism both on and off the pitch, especially given the turn around the club has had since the arrival of Paul Simpson earlier in the year, and I hope the supporters share the same optimism.”
Nigel has represented CUOSC on the Carlisle United Supporters’ Groups panel and taken the lead on initiatives to introduce new fans to the club as CUSG equality, diversity and inclusion officer.
This has seen the club join up with a number of community groups who have come to games and CUFC join the FSA Fans For Diversity 'My Club, My Shirt' campaign.
Click HERE for more information on that campaign.
Nigel has recently been appointed to the National Council of the Football Supporters Association (FSA) until 2024.
Click HERE for more information on that appointment.
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CUFC Holdings (known as 'Holdings')
The club’s Holdings board comprises the club’s largest shareholder, chairman Andrew Jenkins, and shareholder directors John Nixon (also Holdings Company Secretary), Lord Clark of Windermere, Steven Pattison and John Jackson (as representative of Purepay Retail Limited).
Holdings’ roles and responsibilities are focused on the long-term strategic issues facing the club, including investment, provision of funding of the club, appointment of senior operational management, first-team manager and football staff. It controls key on-the field direction and decisions. It also provides supervision and oversight of the 1921 board.
The board of Carlisle United Association Football Club (1921) Limited (known as 1921) consists of four directors. Finance director Suzanne Kidd (who is also 1921 Company Secretary), director of external affairs John Nixon, CUOSC director Nigel Davidson and chief executive Nigel Clibbens.
The 1921 board has specific responsibility for the operational day-to-day direction and management of the club off-the-field.
This covers business activities such as tickets, retail, commercial and match day, alongside all regulatory compliance and implementation of Holdings direction. It holds the club’s EFL share.