The 2006 Accord
On 4 June 2005, at the 2005 Football Supporters' Federation AGM, the FSF refused the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association membership of the FSF in a debate that, among other arguments, questioned why the Football League had yet to introduce any new rules to prevent the "franchising" of other football clubs in the future.
In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association (WISA) that the MKDSA should not be entitled to join the FSF until they give up all claim to the history and honours of Wimbledon FC.
With this in mind, the FSF began discussions aimed at returning Wimbledon FC's honours to the London Borough of Merton.
At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion proposed by the FSF Council to allow the MKDSA membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon FC were given to the London Borough of Merton. In October 2006, agreement was reached between
In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association (WISA) that the MKDSA should not be entitled to join the FSF until they give up all claim to the history and honours of Wimbledon FC.
With this in mind, the FSF began discussions aimed at returning Wimbledon FC's honours to the London Borough of Merton.
At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion proposed by the FSF Council to allow the MKDSA membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon FC were given to the London Borough of Merton. In October 2006, agreement was reached between
the club, the MKDSA, WISA and the FSF in the form of the Accord below. The FA Cup trophy plus all club patrimony gathered under the name of Wimbledon FC would be returned to the London Borough of Merton. Ownership of trademarks and website domain names related to Wimbledon FC would also be transferred to the borough.
As part of the same deal it was agreed that any reference made to Milton Keynes Dons FC should refer only to events subsequent to 7 August 2004 (the date of the first League game of Milton Keynes Dons FC).
As a result of this deal, the FSF announced that the supporters of Milton Keynes Dons FC would be permitted to become members of the federation, and that it would no longer appeal to the supporters of other clubs to boycott Milton Keynes Dons' matches.
On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred ownership of all Wimbledon FC trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.
As part of the same deal it was agreed that any reference made to Milton Keynes Dons FC should refer only to events subsequent to 7 August 2004 (the date of the first League game of Milton Keynes Dons FC).
As a result of this deal, the FSF announced that the supporters of Milton Keynes Dons FC would be permitted to become members of the federation, and that it would no longer appeal to the supporters of other clubs to boycott Milton Keynes Dons' matches.
On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred ownership of all Wimbledon FC trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.
1. This accord covers issues arising from the decision which allowed the former Wimbledon FC’s team owners to move the club from Wimbledon to Milton Keynes.
2. The accord shall be initialled by each of the parties. Final approval and adoption of the accord by each of the parties shall be certified by letter sent to the chief executive of the Football Association at the registered office of the FA at 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA. The accord shall automatically lapse if each of the parties has not so certified acceptance of the accord by a date two calendar months from the date it is initialled. The final date for receipt of certification shall be Monday 2 October 2006.
3. Each of the persons initialling the accord shall recommend its final acceptance and approval by the organisation/undertaking which they represent and shall commit themselves to use their best endeavours to secure such final acceptance and approval.
4. The accord shall come into full force and effect upon receipt by the chief executive of the FA of recorded delivery letters from:
The Football Supporters Federation (FSF)
Milton Keynes Dons Football Club (MKDFC)
Milton Keynes Dons Supporters’ Association (MKDSA)
Wimbledon Independent Supporters’ Association (WISA)
5. All parties recognise that AFC Wimbledon was established by supporters of the former Wimbledon FC following the decision to allow that club to move to Milton Keynes.
6. All parties recognise and genuinely regret the hurt which was caused to supporters of the former Wimbledon FC by the move to Milton Keynes.
7. In recognition of the history and traditions of Wimbledon FC which were all earned during the former club’s time in the London Borough of Merton, MKDFC will donate by appropriate legal mechanism to the London Borough of Merton, for permanent public display in that borough, all the physical patrimony of the former club acquired prior to the move to Milton Keynes which it owns and which is currently in its possession. MKDFC further believes that any such patrimony which should be in its ownership but which is currently in the possession or custody of former club owners, the administrator or former club employees should be similarly donated to the London Borough of Merton.
8. Such permanent display and archive shall be based at a publicly accessible location within the London Borough of Merton.
9. MKDFC shall also assign unencumbered ownership of all Wimbledon FC related trademarks and website domain names which it owns to the London Borough of Merton. MKDFC shall present no objection to the Football League or its contractors to any Wimbledon FC related web domain name being transferred unencumbered to the London Borough of Merton.
10. The London Borough of Merton shall be permitted under the terms of the instrument to licence the administration and maintenance of the permanent display of the physical patrimony to any agency or undertaking it deems appropriate within the London Borough of Merton. However this clause shall not prohibit the short-term loan to other organisations for use on specific occasions.
11. MKDFC will facilitate the quickest possible transfer of all such physical patrimony and records, whilst maintaining those records which company law and/or the football authorities require it to maintain. Wherever possible in this context MKDFC will take certified copies of such document and surrender the originals for display or archiving by the London Borough of Merton. In any event, the final transfer of all physical patrimony and records shall take place no later than three calendar months after this accord has come into full force and effect.
12. Annex A to this accord is a list produced by MKDFC of all physical patrimony relating to the former Wimbledon FC which it currently holds and which is subject to this agreement. MKDFC hereby declares that this list includes all such materials in its possession.
13. Once the transfer of all physical patrimony and records has been agreed and implemented WISA and the FSF will withdraw any and all objections, and any existing policies which support such objections, to other professional football clubs playing MKDFC in pre-season friendly fixtures. WISA and the FSF shall also similarly withdraw their policies of calling for supporters of other clubs to boycott attendance as away supporters at MKDFC home fixtures in all competitions and friendly matches.
14. Furthermore the FSF will undertake to process any application from MKDSA, the Trust in MK Dons and other MKD supporters group for affiliation in the normal way.
15. WISA and the FSF will not object to applications for funding by MKDFC to the Football Foundation or other bodies which should be assessed against the same criteria as any other club.
16. The FSF and WISA confirm that they do not expect MKDFC to implement the recommendations of the FA Appeal Commission relating to maintaining links with South London, and would support moves by the club to develop its identity as a new club within Milton Keynes.
17. In promoting the approval and acceptance of this accord all parties to it accept that there is no solution which will completely satisfy all concerned and that all parties have made some compromises to achieve this position which represents the best way forward in all the circumstances.
18. Accordingly, the initialling parties to the accord recommend its final approval and adoption.
2. The accord shall be initialled by each of the parties. Final approval and adoption of the accord by each of the parties shall be certified by letter sent to the chief executive of the Football Association at the registered office of the FA at 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA. The accord shall automatically lapse if each of the parties has not so certified acceptance of the accord by a date two calendar months from the date it is initialled. The final date for receipt of certification shall be Monday 2 October 2006.
3. Each of the persons initialling the accord shall recommend its final acceptance and approval by the organisation/undertaking which they represent and shall commit themselves to use their best endeavours to secure such final acceptance and approval.
4. The accord shall come into full force and effect upon receipt by the chief executive of the FA of recorded delivery letters from:
The Football Supporters Federation (FSF)
Milton Keynes Dons Football Club (MKDFC)
Milton Keynes Dons Supporters’ Association (MKDSA)
Wimbledon Independent Supporters’ Association (WISA)
5. All parties recognise that AFC Wimbledon was established by supporters of the former Wimbledon FC following the decision to allow that club to move to Milton Keynes.
6. All parties recognise and genuinely regret the hurt which was caused to supporters of the former Wimbledon FC by the move to Milton Keynes.
7. In recognition of the history and traditions of Wimbledon FC which were all earned during the former club’s time in the London Borough of Merton, MKDFC will donate by appropriate legal mechanism to the London Borough of Merton, for permanent public display in that borough, all the physical patrimony of the former club acquired prior to the move to Milton Keynes which it owns and which is currently in its possession. MKDFC further believes that any such patrimony which should be in its ownership but which is currently in the possession or custody of former club owners, the administrator or former club employees should be similarly donated to the London Borough of Merton.
8. Such permanent display and archive shall be based at a publicly accessible location within the London Borough of Merton.
9. MKDFC shall also assign unencumbered ownership of all Wimbledon FC related trademarks and website domain names which it owns to the London Borough of Merton. MKDFC shall present no objection to the Football League or its contractors to any Wimbledon FC related web domain name being transferred unencumbered to the London Borough of Merton.
10. The London Borough of Merton shall be permitted under the terms of the instrument to licence the administration and maintenance of the permanent display of the physical patrimony to any agency or undertaking it deems appropriate within the London Borough of Merton. However this clause shall not prohibit the short-term loan to other organisations for use on specific occasions.
11. MKDFC will facilitate the quickest possible transfer of all such physical patrimony and records, whilst maintaining those records which company law and/or the football authorities require it to maintain. Wherever possible in this context MKDFC will take certified copies of such document and surrender the originals for display or archiving by the London Borough of Merton. In any event, the final transfer of all physical patrimony and records shall take place no later than three calendar months after this accord has come into full force and effect.
12. Annex A to this accord is a list produced by MKDFC of all physical patrimony relating to the former Wimbledon FC which it currently holds and which is subject to this agreement. MKDFC hereby declares that this list includes all such materials in its possession.
13. Once the transfer of all physical patrimony and records has been agreed and implemented WISA and the FSF will withdraw any and all objections, and any existing policies which support such objections, to other professional football clubs playing MKDFC in pre-season friendly fixtures. WISA and the FSF shall also similarly withdraw their policies of calling for supporters of other clubs to boycott attendance as away supporters at MKDFC home fixtures in all competitions and friendly matches.
14. Furthermore the FSF will undertake to process any application from MKDSA, the Trust in MK Dons and other MKD supporters group for affiliation in the normal way.
15. WISA and the FSF will not object to applications for funding by MKDFC to the Football Foundation or other bodies which should be assessed against the same criteria as any other club.
16. The FSF and WISA confirm that they do not expect MKDFC to implement the recommendations of the FA Appeal Commission relating to maintaining links with South London, and would support moves by the club to develop its identity as a new club within Milton Keynes.
17. In promoting the approval and acceptance of this accord all parties to it accept that there is no solution which will completely satisfy all concerned and that all parties have made some compromises to achieve this position which represents the best way forward in all the circumstances.
18. Accordingly, the initialling parties to the accord recommend its final approval and adoption.
The MK Dons Supporters Association Archive
Website created, designed and researched by Russell Forgham
2015-20 with the assistance of David Gundry
2015-20 with the assistance of David Gundry