Oxford United are pleased to announce a significant development in its approach to supporter engagement, confirming that the Oxford United Supporters Panel (OUSP) will be succeeded by a newly established Fan Advisory Board (FAB). The move is part of the Club’s broader Fan Engagement Plan, aimed at strengthening the relationship with our supporters.
The decision follows a comprehensive review of the Club’s engagement strategies, conducted in collaboration with the Football Supporters’ Association, OUSP, and OxVox, the Club’s independent supporters’ trust. The new FAB will serve as a formal structure to ensure fans have a platform for more meaningful and consistent dialogue with the Club.
The board’s remit will cover a wide range of off-field topics, such as the Club’s strategic vision and objectives, proposals relating to significant changes to Club heritage assets, stadium issues and updates and plans for broader supporter engagement.
The FAB will meet quarterly, whilst working groups will also be formed to focus on specific matters such as matchday experience, ticketing, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Tim Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford United, said: “This initiative reflects our ambitions as a Club to be best in class in fan engagement. A lot of hard work has taken place behind the scenes to get us to this point, and I’d like to thank the Football Supporters’ Association, OUSP and OxVox for their support thus far.”
To ensure continuity as the new structure is established, existing elected OUSP independent representatives will move across to the FAB until the end of their current terms of office, with two places available each year through an election process. In addition, three nominated members from OxVox will sit on the board, as well as there being seats set aside for other supporter groups.
The Club itself will be represented on the FAB by Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Adam Benson, and Supporter Liaison Officer, Aaron Kightley, with the CEO, Chairman and other senior Club staff attending selected meetings.
Applications to join the FAB will open shortly, with elections scheduled to take place in July.
For details on how to apply and further information, visit HERE.
Jane Hughes, EFL Network Manager at the Football Supporters’ Association, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the existing Supporters Panel, OxVox and the Club to develop and strengthen fan engagement at Oxford United. The structure, transparency and democracy built into the process, along with the unseen hard work of staff and volunteers alike, demonstrates the commitment of all parties to provide a framework for fans to speak with the Club, and, just as importantly, the Club to speak with the fans.”
Paul Peros, Chair of OxVox, commented: “We welcome the creation of a new board to help increase supporter consultation on the Club’s governance. It is vital, alongside a strong independent supporters trust, that fans have an opportunity for more direct input into strategic planning for the future. We hope that the board will progress and grow as intended and hope the views of the widest range of supporters possible are able to help shape our Club’s future.”
OUSP Chair, Janine Bailey, added: “The FAB is a natural evolution of the work we’ve been doing to improve communication and consultation between the Club and our supporters over the last four years. We’re excited to see this new structure take shape, and will continue to advocate for transparency, inclusion, and accountability across a wider range of issues including strategy and governance.”
