YOUR Trust, Your Voice was the rallying cry last night at Ipswich Town 1st was officially launched.Acting chairman Carl Day outlined the reason for the formation of the independent supporters' trust to 135 Blues fans at the Novotel Hotel in Ipswich and briefly explained the aims and objectives.

YOUR Trust, Your Voice was the rallying cry last night at Ipswich Town 1st was officially launched.

Acting chairman Carl Day outlined the reason for the formation of the independent supporters' trust to 135 Blues fans at the Novotel Hotel in Ipswich and briefly explained the aims and objectives, writes Derek Davis.

The original idea to form a Trust came when Ipswich Town went into administration last February but Day believes it is still important for supporters to have a say in how the club is run.

He told supporters at the meeting: "We can either choose to maintain the status quo and continue to moan and groan about the current state of the club to no avail or we can take positive action and empower ourselves. We can be proactive and constructive in what is essentially the rebirth of Ipswich Town Football Club.

"We have an opportunity right now that we have never previously had. With the money leaking away from the game, the transition of power is returning to the supporters.

"At Ipswich Town we have a particularly unique opportunity for us, the club's supporters, to involve ourselves at the very heart of the club. The misery and depression of administration gives us a chance to change the ownership of the club forever but we can only do this by unifying via a trust.

"The share issue will allow fans to buy shares, both through the Trust and as individuals. The Trust over the next few months will look to raise funds through a variety of methods in order to increase its potential stake in the club."

Day believes the Trust can attract 5,000 members and by buying enough shares can expect a representative on the Ipswich Town board. He told the meeting the Trust had already met with David Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden and had been invited to the September board meeting.

During his speech he added: "Football clubs are as much about the community they serve as anything else, something which cannot be emphasised enough.

"As well as the Trust buying a stake, individuals who buy shares in the club can proxy their votes to the Trust, giving those shares real power. The lone voice of a fan with the minimum shares will never be heard.

"But, if pooled along with thousands of other people's £200 of shares, then a stronger, louder, more powerful voice can be heard and can make a difference."

Anglia TV presenter Stuart Jarrold compered the hour-long meeting and Blues legend Kevin Beattie was in the audience to lend support.