The rules of Bees United prevent someone being on the Board of the Supporters’ Trust for more than 12 years. As such, David will stand down as Chairman of BU at the forthcoming AGM, in March, and will also leave the Club Board at the same time.
David is set to be replaced as Bees United Chairman by Stewart Purvis. Stewart will then take a position on the Brentford FC Board as Bees United representative. Stewart had a long career working in television before his retirement in 2010. He was Editor of Channel 4 News and then Chief Executive Officer of ITN. He is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Channel 4 and was honoured with a CBE in 1999. He is also a long-standing Brentford supporter and a Season Ticket Holder.
Donald Kerr, the Club Vice-Chairman, will also be standing down from the Bees United Board as he is approaching the same 12-year limit. However, due to the role he holds on the Board and as Vice-Chair of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and a Trustee of the EFL Trust – the EFL charity, he has been asked to stay on in a personal capacity.
David said: “It has been a privilege to represent supporters on the Boards of both Bees United and of Brentford Football Club for nearly a dozen years. Back then we feared for the survival of the Club. Now we are an established Championship Club and with a new stadium under construction. I look forward to watching our ongoing success from the terraces.”
Stewart added: “Bees United has a special place in the Club’s history and a role in its future. I am honoured to succeed David Merritt as its Chairman and representative on the Club Board.”
Cliff Crown, Brentford FC Chairman, said: “I would like to pay tribute on behalf of the Board for the work done by David over the past 11 years. The current position of Brentford FC owes much to Bees United’s role in protecting the future of the Club and keeping it going during troubled times and David, as Chairman, played a key part in that. It has been a pleasure working with him on the Board over the past six-and-a-half years and he has made a large contribution’.
“I am sure Stewart will step on to the Board and replace David in a seamless manner. He brings a different expertise to our table, but it is an area that none of our current Directors have worked in and that will be a benefit to the Club. I have met Stewart on numerous occasions and I am delighted to welcome him to the Board. I am sure he has a great deal to add. I am also pleased that Donald will be staying on the Board. He is a superb representative of Brentford FC and works with the Community Sports Trust and EFL Trust as well. He supports me in his role as Vice-Chairman and I look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”