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Several members of supporters group WHUISA have withdrawn their membership of the organisation following the election of a pro-Board candidate to the group's committee.

It was revealed on Monday that Sean Whetstone, who helps run pro-Board website Claret & Hugh had been elected to the ISA's general committee along with two other candidates, Nigel Khan and Kevin Hind. Just 19 per cent of ISA members are understood to have voted.

However news of the appointment has not gone down well with a number of existing WHUISA members, who claimed that Whetstone's relationship with the Board makes a mockery of the group's 'Independent' status.



"I'll be stepping away from this group due to the election of an individual who clearly is not independent to the committee of the association," wrote KUMB member wizzo_66. "For an 'Independent' Supporters Association, the only qualifying material should be that you are Independent of the club.

"Mr Whetstone isn't."

Those thoughts were echoed by fellow KUMB member Nesticles. "Good luck to the people who have clearly put a big effort in to grow this," he wrote. "But I have unsubscribed from WHUISA going forward as I have no interest any more now that it involves a club puppet."

And fellow KUMB and ISA member e17 was in full agreement. "Good luck to all trying your best to make WHUISA a transparent and democratic thing, but sadly it's a no for me now.

"I won’t be endorsing or be a part of any group that has someone who completely contradicts any notion of independence via a track record of absolutely appaling and one sided Board-supporting statements and articles."

However not all disgree that Whetstone's appointment is necesarily a negative step for the ISA to have taken.

"I can't see the issue with Whetstone being on the Comittee," said Gary P. "I wouldn't vote for him myself but even if he reports every word from every meeting [to the Board], those that run the club will be well aware of just how badly thought of they are and any reaction to that.

"And if he starts voting against everything 'anti Board' he will stick out like a spare thumb.

"If the board are aware that there is action planned in the future, so what? Just carry on with the planned action or they may back down before there is any fuss. To paraphrase Brady's quote... look what happened at Burnley."

The new WHUISA Committee, which includes KUMB member NorthernIron (aka John Ratomski) as Chairman looks as follows:

Chairman: John Ratomski
Vice Chairman: Mark Sandell
Secretary: Sue Watson
Treasurer: George Simon Mann
Membership Officer: Lew Ozarow
Social Media Officer: To be confirmed

General Committee members: Sean Whetstone, Nigel Kahn and Kevin Hind

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