Firstly let’s look at the word ‘independent’, it’s a descriptive word that means ‘not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion’ So if you take the stance that Tony Myers will influence the opinion of other directors then they cannot be independent of their own thoughts, so that is a fair point.

However, independent can also mean ‘not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction’ or in other words as is the case with the IBMTO, we are independent from governing bodies and work autonomously, therefore a subsidiary that functions as an autonomous unit.

This is why we use the word independent but I can see why you have become singularly focused on that one word and I hope that alleviates your concerns regarding our usage of it.

Your next point is that the organisation is full of people who have financial issues in the sport. It is a professional sport so I would think that a lot of people have financial issues within it; from charging students, to running courses and organising shows.

We get paid for officiating and we get paid for running courses, that hasn’t changed whether this organisation exists or not. It’s what we do, some for a living, some for extra income, some better than others. So I don’t really get your point, perhaps you could offer me better clarity on this.

Now my point of concern, you say that you are not attacking Tony Myers, Liam Robinson, Dean James or the way they officiate and yet you have singled out these individuals and used words like ‘clones of Tony Myers’ and ‘The Tony Myers fan club’. If not attacking as you say, then certainly you are being condescending.

All this aside though, the IBMTO now exists and with the people that I personally contacted and asked to join, so the choice of who was invited was initially mine and my very first choice was Tony Myers.

I then looked at who I had worked with and who had the right attitude and experience to be a part of the team. Everyone selected has individual attributes and strengths that I, and my fellow directors felt would contribute to the success of the IBMTO.

Now there will always be politics and there will always be people in an organisation who, for whatever reasons, are not liked by everybody. However, what is very evident on here by the reaction of many and the E-mails and calls I have received, is that there are more in favour of those that are on board than those who are not in favour. So I am happy with my choices.

In saying all this though, it is not a popularity contest of who is the best or most known or has the most friends (or clones). It is about doing something right and if you feel it is an old deck of cards being reshuffled then so be it, but like all decks of cards there are aces in the pack, reshuffled or not.

So, as with anything new, a leap of faith is always needed and that is evident by all the high profile promoters and sanctioning bodies that are now going to support us.

IBMTO is now here and we have a job to do and if you support us and believe in our principles then thank you. If you don’t, then thank you anyway because input gives us food for thought to ensure we get this right.

With regards

SHAUN