The publication by the Premier League of the new Fan Engagement Standard at long last commits clubs to ensuring long-term meaningful engagement with supporters. Foxes Trust view this as being a result of several years of campaigning by supporter groups and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), along with recent pressure brought about by the Fan-led Review into Football Governance and the recommendations in the subsequent White Paper.
What does FES mean for supporters
The FES formalises supporter engagement for clubs in the Premier League, and provides a means by which clubs can be monitored and assessed on how well they engage with their fans. In brief, clubs are committed to:
- Fan Engagement Plans (FEP) – all clubs to include a summary of the aims, values and objectives of the Club in respect of fan engagement.
- Nominated Board Level Official – identification of a senior ‘board level’ person responsible for fan engagement.
- Fan Engagement Platforms – details of the platforms that the club will use to engage with supporters.
- Fan Advisory Board – establishment of a Fan Advisory Board, including supporter representation.
- Collaboration – commitments by the club in respect of collaboration with fan-focused organisations.
- Heritage Assets – agree through fan consultation a list of heritage assets that will require fan consultation in event of a material change being proposed.
- Transparency – details of the way in which the club will bring transparency to the fan engagement process.
Supporter engagement at LCFC
The FES commitments do not preclude the continuation of existing arrangements with City’s various fan groups and platforms such as the FCC and Your 90 Minutes. It does commit the Club to consulting with supporters on its Fan Engagement Plan (FEP) – on which, Foxes Trust have already had initial dialogue – due for publication at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The FEP will include plans for the introduction of Fan Advisory Board (FAB), the aim of which is to provide board-level consultation with the Club. The Trust have already commenced dialogue on how the FAB could be constituted and what its terms of reference might be – something the Trust hope is the beginning of fruitful consultations over the coming months.
Foxes Trust is currently fortunate to be experiencing very good relations with LCFC, but supporters in many clubs are not so lucky and the FES does not apply to clubs in the English Football League.
The Trust remains hopeful that the FES provide a minimum standard for any regulations that may become the remit of the proposed Independent Regulator for all of football, should the White Paper recommendations become legislation.
Foxes Trust Chair, Ian Bason commented: “The Trust welcomes the publication of the Fan Engagement Standard. We are open to continuing dialogue with Leicester City regarding the Club’s Fan Engagement Plan and look forward to the introduction of a Fan Advisory Board.”
22 March 2023