Varun Pai
Manchester United chief expresses delight towards the launch of fan advisory board
Speaking in an interview (h/t The Sun), Manchester United chief Collette Roche explained that the launch of the fan advisory board is to ensure fans are heard at the highest level of the club’s echelons.
There were massive protests from supporters nearly nine months ago, when the Red Devils decided to join the European Super League. The club eventually withdrew from it immediately and are now taking active steps to rectify their mistake. A fan advisory board is being launched to enable the fans to voice their opinions. Seven fan representatives shall be present on this panel.
They shall be co-chaired by barrister and lifelong fan Christopher Saad and the club’s group managing director, Richard Arnold. Four members have already been appointed to the board. Ian Sterling and Rick McGagh of the established Fans’ Forum are two of them. The other duo is the club’s Supporters Trust Chair Jonathan Deitch and its Chief Executive, Duncan Drasdo.
The remaining two spots shall be taken by Man United Women’s Supporters’ Club Chair, Deborah Henry, and communications consultant, Oli Winton. Retired civil servant Dave Pennington and another MUST board member shall be special advisors to the co-Chairs.
Man United chief operating officer, Collette Roche, revealed that the launching of this board is a ‘historic step.’
“The launch of the Fans’ Advisory Board is a historic step to ensure that the supporters’ perspective is always heard and understood right up to the highest levels of the club. This will improve decision-making and reduce the risk of conflict with fans on the most important issues.”
A step in the right direction
There is a lot of animosity between United fans and the Glazers. Their appointments and injection of cash into the club are often scrutinized by supporters. However, a board that is made for the supporters needs to be appreciated.
It is a step that everybody expected them to take, but to follow through with it in the same year as the ESL debacle is a good statement to make. It looks like the stars are finally aligning for the fans. In the past week, an actual football person in Ralf Rangnick was also appointed as the interim manager
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There are a lot of good changes coming our way, and we deserve it. Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did right and wrong things, but it is time to get past them. It is a new era the club are building towards, and a fan advisory board will go a long way in helping them achieve that.
Whether it is the sign of better days to come or just an act to put wool over our eyes remains to be seen.
