The club would like to give a warm welcome to Warren Bellew who has signed for the Linnets this week. Previous clubs include Skelmersdale and Runcorn Town. Everybody at the club would like to wish Warren good luck!

Runcorn beat Stockport Sports in the North West Counties Premier League with a score of 0-3. Antony Hickey put the Linnets ahead with a cracker of a shot in the 1st minute. Kevin Towey increased the Linnets' lead from inside the 6 yard box in the 61st minute, and again with a close range shot in the 74th minute.

Match Report

Runcorn beat AFC Blackpool in the North West Counties Premier League at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 4-0. Kyle Hamid put the Linnets ahead from inside the 6 yard box in the 10th minute. Kyle Hamid increased the Linnets' lead after a scramble in front of goal in the 30th minute. Michael Simpson extended our lead with a fantastic strike in the 64th minute. Michael Simpson put us four goals clear with a thunderous strike in the 71st minute.

Match Report

PLANS to streamline Trust membership of Runcorn Linnets FC – making the system easier for the club to operate and more convenient for members – have been approved.

Last night's Annual General Meeting of RLFC Limited saw members vote in favour of a recommendation by the club's Trust Board to introduce a same-for-all fixed membership term.

Since the Linnets were formed in 2006, members have joined throughout the year and, therefore, renewed at different times.

From next year, all memberships will run from 1st September to 31st August inclusive.

To make the changeover as fair as possible to existing members and so not to discourage prospective new joiners, the board had also suggested a range of interim measures.

These were likewise passed by the membership.

Consequently, all current members whose membership expires between 1st January and 1st May 2014 will pay a half-year subscription when rejoining - pending the launch of the first new membership cycle in September. The same will apply to anyone joining in the same period.

Those members becoming due to renew from 1st June 2014 to 1st August 2014 will see their existing memberships automatically extended until the new system comes into effect on 1st September 2014 and will therefore not have to pay any further subscriptions until then.

Similarly, the subscriptions of any new members joining during this period will not expire until 1st September 2015.

Any current members due to renew their subscriptions after 1st September 2014 will instead (along with any lapsed members rejoining) pay the full annual subscription on that date and become due for renewal again on 1st September 2015. Once the changes take effect, membership will remain open throughout the membership year but existing, lapsed and new members will pay the full subscription for that year irrespective of their joining or rejoining date.

Both resolutions relating to the membership year changes were passed by all members who voted.

Dave Bettley, Trust secretary of Runcorn Linnets, said: "The changes will bring advantages for both the club and members.

"Members will have chance to collect and return their application forms on match days at pre-season friendly matches and in the first couple of weeks of each season.

"The whole process will become much easier as members will know when their subscriptions expire and no memberships will become due outside the football season, therefore making the system more convenient."

AN updated and more relevant constitution for Runcorn Linnets Football Club Limited has moved a major step forward.

The introduction of a completely new set of club rules and associated draft side policies was unanimously passed by the membership at last night's Annual General Meeting.

The club received the mandate it needed by at least half of eligible members voting and 75% or more of these opting in favour of the resolutions.

Runcorn's Trust board had recommended the change on the advice of Supporters Direct (SD), under whose umbrella the Linnets operate as a fans-owned club.

The new rules still need to be formally ratified by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). But similar sets have already been verified and subsequently introduced at other Trust-run clubs and supporters societies.

The Linnets' Trust board had ahead of the AGM given unanimous backing to the proposals, declaring the rule change a "crucial step forward".

In light of advice from Supporters Direct, the Trust Board strongly recommended that members voted in favour of the changes, which are designed to:

• Bring rules up to date and make them more relevant.

• Include the option of additional powers available to Community Benefit Societies.

• Improve areas where common issues have arisen in supporters trusts.

• Be more user-friendly.

Jacqui Forster, Legal &Constitutional Affairs Manager at SD, told Linnets members before the meeting: "The present rules of Runcorn Linnets haven't suddenly become illegal, nor will they prevent the club being a member of SD by not adopting them.

"But we believe that they offer an opportunity to update and improve what you have."

The key changes include an option for withdrawable shares, slimmed-down objects reflecting the core business of Sports Club Community Mutuals and the introduction of five club-specific side policies, presented as SD best practice.

With some finetuning still needed to the Linnets' side policies – regarding Board Membership and Conduct; Disciplinary matters; Elections; General Meetings and Board Meetings – these were presented in draft form.

Members gave "in principle"approval for the five policies sought by the club, which obtained full consent for the new rules.