AST on Arsenal’s very disappointing plans for supporter engagement

Arsenal have today set out proposals that update how they will manage supporter engagement. This follows the widespread criticism they and other clubs received for the decision to enter a European Super League. The Government has also set up a fan-led review of football with the intention of giving supporters a greater say in their clubs’ decision-making.

Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) responded to Arsenal’s proposals:

“These proposals are very underwhelming and fail to match even the proposals made by other Premier League clubs.

As this recent AST membership survey shows, Arsenal fans are extremely unhappy at how their club is being run and support proposals to improve its governance including:

- Supporters being given the opportunity to be shareholders 

- Supporters being given a greater say in how clubs are run through a ‘golden share’ on major decisions that affect the future of the club

- Appointing two truly independent Non-Executive Directors (iNEDs). 

- Having an elected supporters’ representative on the club’s board and a formally constituted Supporters’ Advisory Board

At present, the Arsenal board have ignored all of these proposals for change, which have been put to them in recent Fans’ Forum meetings and in direct correspondence from the AST.

The club has given no meaningful explanation for rejecting all of these proposals. In recent weeks Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs among others have all introduced some of the suggestions set out above. 

We do note and welcome proposals to improve the Fans’ Forum and dialogue at an executive level. The club have accepted our proposal that Fans’ Forum members for certain specific categories of supporter such as Red, Silver, Gold and Away should be elected by their membership cohort, and this should improve one aspect of accountability and feedback.

 The AST’s position remains the same: significant change is needed in how football is run. We will continue to make this case to both Arsenal and the Government’s fan-led review. You can read our submission to the review here