Monday night's Trust board meeting was the first in over five years that did not feature either Joe Bourke or Bruce Powell, who both stepped down as Trust board members this month.
David Merritt, recently elected Trust Chair, praised both in their efforts for the Trust. He said: "I would like to pay tribute to Joe and Bruce. Both have put in an extraordinary amount of time and effort as volunteers ensuring that Bees United has grown from a small organisation to one that has the controlling interest of Brentford Football Club. This has happened within a timescale perhaps beyond anyone’s expectations when Bees United was launched six years ago.
"Bruce has ensured that the Trust administration has functioned on a day-to-day basis. He has delivered many of the fundamental elements of the trust – membership databases, election administration, correspondence, mailshots and the like – and has done so without hesitation. He will be very difficult to replace, and I am pleased he has offered to continue with his support as we transition to new arrangements.
"Joe has provided his considerable financial expertise not only to the Trust but also to the Football Club for the past two years. He has acted as an unpaid Finance Director, Company Secretary and Tax Advisor, and has been an integral part of both the Trust and Club boards. Stepping down from the Trust Board and retiring by rotation from the Club Board, Joe has also offered to continue to provide support as required in the future, something I am sure the Trust and Club will be grateful for in the coming months.
"Both Bruce and Joe are great examples of the volunteer effort that is behind the success of the Trust, and is the cornerstone of a community club like Brentford. My thanks, and that of the Trust Board and all of our members to you both."