E-I-E-I-E-I-O - A Governance Model for Football Fans
In football, chants often echo far beyond the pitch. Among the uproar of cheers and the agony of defeat lies a subtle plea for greater involvement, a desire to be more than just spectators.
For anyone who has spent time in the terraces in the English football pyramid, you would have heard the chant "E-I-E-I-E-I-O up the football league we go”. I bet you didn’t know that this is not just a celebration of forever growing ambition, it's a rallying cry for participatory innovation.
Maybe not. But in the spirit of chanting improbable dreams into reality. I introduce to you the E-I-O model for fan empowerment. The steps to embedding democratic models into the football ecosystem.
Engage - Institute - Ownership
The need to review how fans engage with their clubs has become increasingly urgent in the modern era. As the biggest clubs continue to become reliant on a business model of centralised billion dollar ownership. Teams without the same riches are increasingly under threat. My very own beloved Scunthorpe United has spent the past few years teetering on the brink of collapse. A result of mismanagement and in-built unaccountability.
Thankfully, down to the efforts of various fan groups the club lives to fight another day, albeit in the nether regions of the football pyramid. Regardless, the threat was real, not merely the demise of a football club but the erosion of a community asset, a symbol of shared identity and passion. In such turbulent times, the need for fan engagement has never been more urgent.
Recently, the Premier League clubs all unanimously approved the introduction of the Premier League Fan Engagement Standard. These include a series of commitments such as the introduction of a Fan Advisory Board with the primary purpose of engaging in discussion, exchanging information and securing feedback from a fan’s perspective.
This initiative marks a shift towards fostering dialogue, sharing insights, and soliciting feedback from the lifeblood of any club—its supporters. However, this is just the qualifier, there are several more steps up the ladder of involvement
Engagement
The current fan engagement model is built on political representation, selecting individuals to represent a wider supporter base. However, the next step beckons clubs to open their doors wider, inviting fans from all walks of life to the table. Gone are the days of exclusive consultations; instead, a chorus of diverse voices ensures a more accurate representation of the collective will.
The most effective way to achieve this is to use deliberative methods of participation which are proven to not only extend the base of participation but foster greater quality of engagement.
A fan’s assembly to represent the rich diversity of the supporter base to determine the future direction. This could be led by the club itself but also is a better way for the supporters groups - democratic member based organisations - to engage with their membership. With this approach their judgements are more likely to be well reasoned, thoughtful and balanced. Participants can also emerge with new skills, confidence and a heightened desire to contribute to the organisation in other ways.
In doing so, they not only bolster their governance structures but also fortify their bonds with the community they serve.
By elevating the voice of the fans' forum, clubs bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality, ensuring that every voice counts.
But why stop there? Once the effectiveness has been established that takes us to the second stage.
Institutionalisation
In advocating for greater fan involvement, there is an inevitability for actions that go beyond mere token gestures. Board level representation is not just a symbolic gesture—it's a fundamental shift towards true accountability and transparency. It means having a real seat at the table, where fans can influence decision-making processes and hold club leadership accountable.
The FAB recommendations puts two supporters on the board; this is a positive start and something that needs to be linked to wider input driven by the supporters' clubs. By supporter’s groups institutionalising some of the democratic innovations noted above, this while strengthening the voice and potential of the supporter’s voice.
From there establishing the similar processes within the governance structures of the club itself, will embed fan’s voices into the club. From here, it is important to ensure there are binding recommendations that carry weight and compel action.
Imagine selecting a representative sample of 100 fans to come together to deliberate and decide on recommendations to take the club forward. It becomes about more than just attending matches or buying merchandise; it's about actively shaping the future of the clubs we love. Fans must be empowered to play a meaningful role in the governance of their clubs. Embedding these types of practices both within supporters clubs and the club’s itself is sure to only strengthen the bond and opportunity.
Ownership
So, where does all of this lead us? Well, let's be real for a moment. While the idea of fan ownership and engagement sounds all well and good it's not always the golden ticket to success—at least not in the traditional sense.
Having a billionaire owner with deep pockets can often seem like the shortcut to glory. Remember the scenes of Geordies decked out in gowns and kaffiyeh celebrating their new Saudi Arabian led takeover,
On a deeper level, however, success isn't just about the number of zeros in your bank account. It's about something deeper, something more meaningful.
Sure, having a wealthy owner might bring short-term success, but at what cost? Without the support and passion of the fans, a football club is just a business—a soulless entity driven by profit margins and transfer fees.
That's why recognizing fans as an integral part of the game is so crucial. It's not just about filling seats in the stadium; it's about fostering a sense of belonging and community that transcends wins and losses.
Let's not forget what truly makes football special: the people who live and breathe the game, week in and week out. Because at the end of the day, it's their unwavering support that defines the essence of football.
As we've seen in the examples of German football clubs, fan ownership and engagement can be a powerful force for good, ensuring that the voices of the supporters are heard and valued. This is particularly vital for smaller clubs, where the investment opportunities may be limited, but the connection to the community is profound.
That brings us back to the chant, it goes “E-I-E-I-E-I-O”. The path to fan ownership isn’t immediate or linear. It is, however, up to the fans to demand more than just a passive role in the clubs they love. It's up to them to push for greater transparency, accountability, and involvement in decision-making processes. Because when fans have a real say in the direction of their clubs, everyone wins—players, staff, and supporters alike.
After all, football belongs to all of us, not just the highest bidder. It isn't just a game—it's much more important than that