There are genuine people behind all of this. Ordinary supporters, volunteers, mums and dads who take their kids to games, giving up their own time because they want to make a difference. Behind every nasty rumour or personal attack is someone simply trying to make our football club a better place. Worth remembering that sometimes. Thanks, Ian. #SWFC

27th September 2025. The infamous impromptu Barney Owl protest, followed by the South Stand post-match demonstration after a 1-1 draw with QPR. The scarves were appearing in greater numbers, the momentum was building and the pressure on our former custodian was intensifying. 365 days ago. #SWFC

Now it’s out in the Trust newsletter that Otto Brookes has stood down from the Board, I wanted to say a little bit about his time with the Trust and how, somewhere along the way, we became very close pals. I worked incredibly closely with Otto during probably the most intense period the Trust has ever experienced. I genuinely dread to think how many WhatsApps we exchanged, certainly enough that our respective partners probably deserve some form of compensation. Otto was one of the real brains behind so many of our successful protests. When protests were being organised, he was speaking to supporters’ groups and staff at other clubs ahead of away games, working through the logistics and helping make sure things actually happened rather than just being talked about. He played a huge part in Wrexham’s reversal of the suppression of our protest and the subsequent donation which helped fund further protests, with money ultimately also being donated to assist the club through its financial hardship. His research was phenomenal. He spent countless hours digging into our previous ownership and those linked with potentially taking the club forward, producing detailed dossiers which ultimately found their way to the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator. And then there was the infamous DC blimp. That particular piece of protest insanity was Otto’s brainchild. Plans were made. Quotes were obtained. Logistics were discussed. Thankfully, events overtook us and Hillsborough was spared the sight of it floating through the skies. 😂 If there was something that might help the cause, however serious, complicated or occasionally completely bonkers, he’d explore it properly. He always flew under the radar and never seemed particularly bothered about people knowing what he was doing. But we knew. I saw the hours he put in, the work he produced and how much he cared about helping protect our football club. I’m immensely proud of what our fans achieved together and very lucky that somewhere amongst the thousands of WhatsApps, protests, dossiers and plans for airborne inflatables, I gained a proper mate. Enjoy your new real job, mate. Wednesday owes you more than most people will ever realise. 💙🤍 #SWFC