Bristol have gone cap in hand to a fans' group to pay for an essential online analysis service.

And, in return, the BRIS Trust have issued a final request for the club to hand them a place on the board of directors or a golden share.

The Memorial Stadium outfit were the only Guinness Premiership side not to use the £10,200 Opta package, which provides videos and a statistics breakdown from matches from the Guinness Premiership, EDF Energy Cup and both European Cups.

Bristol claim they could not afford the extra £10,200 because they had already finalised their budget.

The Trust have agreed to pay a subscription of £850 per month for six months and will raise the remaining funds from the profits of its 2009 calendars, which the club will sell.

This latest donation takes the Trust's funding to more than £46,000 in the last five years. They also believe they have carried out building work at the club worth another £40,000.

The Trust committee will meet the Bristol hierarchy on November 20 where they hope further discussions will lead towards them gaining a place on the club's board or a golden share.

Trust chairman Andrew Humphreys said: "This is probably the last chance for the club to engage properly with the fans. The club has to start paying us back in some way.

"We have been doing this for over five years. This is more about recognising the role we have been playing. It's nothing to do with ticket prices. We want a supporters director role or a share in the club."

Bristol general manager Corin Palmer said: "The bottom line is that (head coach) Richard Hill wanted this new software and we had already invested £30,000 in upgrading our analysis system.

"Our budgets had already been set. There are plenty of ways we could have asked for it. We could have gone for sponsorship.

"There's nothing sinister in this. This new piece of software came on the market but we didn't have the money in this year's budget for it."

The Trust raise money with fans paying one year memberships worth £20. It costs pensioners £10 to join but fans can also pay more money to the Trust if they wish.

They had 550 members after the club were relegated in 2003 but have now just over 150.

But, if Bristol give their fans an incentive, Humphreys is confident the fans can provide money for the club.

"As long as it is well documented and we know it (the director position and/or golden share) is going to happen then we can get the Trust membership up," he added.

"The point is that we have been telling the club this for the last five years but the CEOs don't seem to take this on board.

"I don't want to preempt what will happen but, if they say over two years we raise large amounts (of money), we can have a share of the club or a fan as a director it gives us something to aim for."

This season, the Trust are also funding Bristol Schools Rugby (£6,000) and Bristol minis and juniors (£5,000). They have already spent £11,000 on these two youth rugby organisations.

Humphreys added: "We have spent money on kit, travel and also made them able to pay for coaches as well.

"The main point is that we as supporters can bring on players who can play for the Bristol first team in the future."