Posted on 5th August 2021
Trust Oldham have become the latest supporter group to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with their club, Oldham Athletic.
Wanderers fan group sign MOU with club
Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust (BWFCST) have become the latest supporter group to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with their club.
MOUs help formalise the relationship between a fan group and their club, setting out key terms of reference for how the club engages with its supporters on a formal basis, and are a tool that has been used by many supporter groups on the back of government recommendations to improve dialogue between football clubs and their fanbase.
BWFCST board members recently met with the club’s chief executive, Neil Hart, to discuss the relationship between club and fans while signing the MOU.
Terence Rigby, chair of BWFCST, said: “This represents another great step for the club in the rebuilding process and forging a stronger bond with the supporters who are the lifeblood of Bolton Wanderers.
“We hope that in light of the Fan-led Review recommendations that many more clubs will take similar positive actions.”
The entirety of the MOU and its terms of reference have been made public – you can download the document here.
Bolton Wanderers chief executive Neil Hart said: “One of the first actions following my appointment was to formalise our burgeoning relationship with the BWFCST.
“Our community and fans are integral to a bright and successful future and I look forward to having regular meetings with the BWFCST to help drive the Wanderers forward.”
Wanderers are the 10th club to sign an MOU with their club. Earlier this year Oldham Athletic and Trust Oldham signed a similar agreement – and last year Accrington Stanley signed an MOU with the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Trust (OASST) with the aim of improving dialogue between club and fans.
The FSA’s EFL network manager Deborah Dilworth said: “By signing an MOU, the club are acknowledging that supporters are a key stakeholder and are committing to a genuine dialogue with them. These commitments to proper consultation allow for challenging issues to be tackled head-on by both parties.
“The trust and the club deserve praise for taking this step which puts supporters at the heart of the decision-making process.”
