Fact Check
It has been driven by the FSA in response to the Tracy Crouch review, not by any kind of customer survey response. Facilitated by Andy Taylor in the first and last meeting but the club was not at all involved in any of the setup process and document drafting.
It has the support of Oxvox who wrote a joint statement with the OUSP working group which has been quoted above.
It might end up being ineffective. But with good representatives willing to talk to fans regularly and put fans viewpoints to the club it could also prove to be key in not only dealing with problems but also identifying new initiatives to benefit fans.
The only way we will know is to see what happens. If anyone doesn't like the idea then they won't have to engage with the Panel. No existing channel of communication is being removed.
Fact Check: (with detail)
In 2016 there was an Expert Working Group set up to examine Ownership and Engagement.
The final report from the Expert Working Group on Football Supporter Ownership and Engagement.
www.gov.uk
They concluded:
"This is a report presented to Government. It has been prepared by football, with the authorities that run the game, working together with supporter organisations that speak on behalf of fans up and down the land. The report sets out a number of recommendations for what more can be done to encourage greater engagement between supporters and those that run their club, while also helping to remove barriers to supporter ownership, when such opportunities arise for
credible supporters’ trusts to bid to own their club."
Subsequently....
Oliver Dowden (DCMS) asked for the review of football governance. Tracey Crouch led the review.
"This Independent Review, announced by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden on 19 April 2021, is a comprehensive examination of the English football system with the aim of exploring ways of
improving the governance, ownership and financial sustainability of clubs in the football pyramid, building on the strengths and benefits that our great game already provides the nation.
Following extensive engagement with fans and stakeholders across the whole football community, on which the foundations of this Review have been based, this interim set of findings and recommendations sets out the direction of travel towards the final recommendations. Further substantive work will take place over the coming months to feed into the
Review’s final report in the Autumn."
Source:
This letter outlines the interim findings and recommendations of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, led by Tracey Crouch MP
www.gov.uk
In TC`s letter to OD she even said:
"To date, there has been no consensus in the evidence presented to the Review on the correct vehicle for such fan engagement, with suggestions such as fan appointed directors not universally favoured by supporter groups"
Source:
https://assets.publishing.service.g...letter_to_Oliver_Dowden_Accessible_Format.pdf
Don`t we already have a group of supporters who are keeping an eye on the governance, ownership and financial sustainability?
And yes, I completed the DCMS led survey.
I also understand why the FSA got involved as a major stakeholder.
I also know how Government reviews and consultations work having done several and been called to give evidence to Parliamentary working groups.