TOTTENHAM LAUNCH FAN ADVISORY BOARD, PLAYERS OFFER TICKET REFUNDS TO FANS WHO TRAVELLED TO NEWCASTLE
Tottenham Hotspur have announced the launch of a new Fan Advisory Board. The club confirmed the news on the same day that its players announced they will reimburse the cost of tickets to fans who traveled to Newcastle to watch their recent Premier League outing.
Spurs lost 6-1 to Newcastle United at St James Park in one of their worst showings in Premier League history, a performance that Spurs players apologized for this week. A statement from Tottenham’s players read: “As a squad, we understand your frustration, your anger. It wasn’t good enough. We know words aren’t enough in situations like this but believe us, a defeat like this hurts.”
“We appreciate your support, home and away, and with this in mind we would like to reimburse fans with the cost of their match tickets from St James’ Park. We know this does not change what happened on Sunday and we will give everything to put things right against Manchester United on Thursday evening when, again, your support will mean everything to us. Together – and only together – can we move things forward.”
The players are expected to reimburse up to $114,000, on a $38 ticket to the 3000 fans who made the trip north to Tyneside for the game on Sunday. The total cost of the reimbursement is about 3% of the team’s weekly wage bill. Supporters who traveled to Newcastle are expected to receive funds used in their accounts for the original booking within the next 7 days.
Tottenham fans have been frustrated with the hierarchy at the club in the past few seasons. That resentment has only grown with the turnstile of managers that have been through the club in the past three and a half years.
The team has also been making headlines recently for all the wrong reasons, especially after parting ways with manager Antonio Conte and losing director of football Fabio Paratici late last month. The club sacked interim manager Christian Stellini on Monday following Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle and on Tuesday announced the group of staff who will work with newly appointed interim head coach Ryan Mason.
Head Coach Ryan Mason will be joined by former Academy player and Coach Matt Wells as the Acting Assistant Head Coach, current Academy coach Nigel Gibbs as the Acting First Team Coach, alongside Perry Suckling and Gianni Vio, who will carry on their previous roles of First Team Goalkeeping Coach and Set Pieces Coach respectively.
Interim head coach Ryan Mason spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the team’s game against Manchester United on Thursday saying he felt ready for the job. “I know I’m ready,” said Mason. “I’m absolutely ready for this [interim] situation. We handled it well two years ago. Ultimately from my point of view, I feel fine. I feel ready.”
As for the club’s new advisory board, the aim for Tottenham is that it represents significantly greater fan engagement and a wide representation of supporters, from both England and abroad. With the evolution of football trending towards fan ownership, more fan involvement in club decision making, and a growing resentment towards traditional and private ownership, Spurs have decided on a more proactive approach which involves reaching out to the fanbase.
The team’s statement said: “The FAB will provide a new forum for elected members from different sections of our fan base, inclusive and reflective of our diversity, ensuring fans are consulted, kept informed and their views considered during club decision making.”
Tottenham consulted fan organizations like Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Proud Lilywhites, SpursAbility, Spurs REACH, in the shaping of the FAB and will work in accordance with the Government’s ‘Fan Led Review’ and the Premier League’s Fan Engagement Standard.
The FAB will cover a myriad of issues including the club’s strategic vision and objectives, its priorities and plans, operational match day issues, stadium issues and plans, proposals relating to significant changes to club heritage assets, and the club’s community strategy, equality, diversity and inclusion commitments.
Season ticket holders for both the Men’s and Women’s team along with members from any of One Hotspur, Domestic Official Supporters’ Club, and International Official Supporters Club have until Sunday May 14 to apply via an online form to be an elected member of the Fan Advisory Board. Shortlisted applicants will be voted on by the club’s supporters in independent elections managed by UK’s no.1 electoral service company, Civica Election Services.
Along with the members who will stand to be elected by their fellow fans, the FAB will also have nominated representatives from Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Proud Lilywhites, SpursAbility, and Spurs REACH. Executive director Donna-Maria Cullen will represent the club on the board alongside Head of Supporter Engagement, Levi Harris.
“We are delighted to be announcing the launch of our Fan Advisory Board,” said Cullen. “It represents a strong and structured forum for fan engagement and more extensive communication with supporters… We are proud of the rich diversity that exists amongst our global fan base and believe the constitution and makeup of the Fan Advisory Board will ensure it reflects this.”
Club Chairman Daniel Levy, other board members and senior club staff, however, will only attend selected meetings. The new Fan Advisory Board will meet four times a year and one of its supporter representatives will have a seat at a Club Board meeting four times a year. The first FAB meeting is expected to take place in July.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Hzh. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.