SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT MEETING - 25 May 2018 - Supporters Direct

SUPPORTER
ENGAGEMENT
MEETING
25 May 2018

AGENDA
 Matters Arising                  Late Notice Weather Postponements
 Standing & Stand Up for Choice   Restricted Views
 Supporter Engagement             Community
 Owners’ Conduct Review           EFL Official Charity Partner – Mind
 AGM Proposals                    AOB
 Broadcasting

STAND UP FOR CHOICE

STAND UP FOR CHOICE - BACKGROUND
 EFL received Club mandate in 2014 to seek a change in legislation;
 Active dialogue with supporter groups, Government and other stakeholders;
 Alongside supporter groups, the EFL is committed to giving Clubs and fans choice;
 Choice means being seated or standing in safe, licensed areas of grounds;
 Campaign launched April 27;
 Launched with ‘Stand Up For Choice’ survey and media activity;
 Campaign is designed to inform the debate;
 The matter will be debated in Westminster Hall on June 25.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE - OBJECTIVES
The immediate and long-term objectives for the campaign focus on six key points:

  Demonstrate clear impact and support for change in legislation;
  Achieve clear mandate from supporters to push for change;
  Secure positive coverage for the EFL/FSF and improved perception for its role in this
  hugely significant area for supporters;
  Work with relevant bodies in this area while being mindful of the need for a long term
  partnership with Government;
  Deliver change and improved matchday experience for supporters;
  Inform the debate.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE – MESSAGING
 Standing is safe;
 21 EFL Clubs across all divisions already offer fully-licensed standing accommodation to
 supporters;
 72 of our clubs should have the same opportunity;
 It is unclear as to why standing accommodation is permitted in League One and League Two but
 not at the same stadium after three years playing in the Championship or above;
 If standing accommodation is licensed as being safe, it doesn’t become less safe because of the
 standard of football.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE – MESSAGING
 Current legislation prevents Clubs from utilising forms of crowd accommodation that is permitted
 in other sports;

 There is significant strength of feeling from supporters, evidenced by the petition;

 Our aim is to work with Government and the safety authorities to achieve progress;

 Introducing licensed standing areas will help Clubs to manage associated issues of persistent
 standing;

 The EFL is committed to providing Clubs with a choice on this matter, so that fans can have the
 matchday experience they want;

 The potential positive impact on attendances.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE – TACTICS

 Club, Media and Stakeholder Engagement;
 Production of a short ‘influencer’ film;
 Issuing of Stand up for Choice survey results;
 Production of case studies, promoting key message of consistency and choice;
 Activity across Sky Bet EFL Play-Off weekend.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE – TACTICS

 Interim EFL briefing document being supplied to MPs;
 Face-to-face meetings;
 Working alongside FSF to manage collaborative position;
 Engaging with other campaigners to try and ensure cohesive approach;
 Data analysis regarding levels of disorder at 21 clubs with standing in comparison to
 other grounds.

STAND UP FOR CHOICE – KEY DATES

 Survey Results – W/C 28 May 2018;
 Clubs briefed at Summer Conference on 7 June 2018;
 Media briefings – W/C 18 June 2018;
 Westminster Debate – 25 June 2018;
 Activity to be determined post 25 June 2018.

SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT

OWNERS’ CONDUCT REVIEW

AGM PROPOSALS

AGM - CHANGES TO REGULATIONS
(50%+1 & 50%+1 of Championship)

1.   Regulation changes emanating from Owners’ Conduct Review;
     Introduction of Club Charter – covering conduct of Clubs, officials and relevant persons.
     Overdue Payments – extension of ‘30 day’ rule.
     Owners’ and Directors’ Test – intermediaries barred from acting as a relevant person.

2.   IFO – Clubs to comply promptly and in full;

3.   SLOs – Clarity around wording (as raised previously in this forum);

4.   Pre-season meetings – Requirement for Clubs to meet with FA;

AGM - CHANGES TO REGULATIONS
5. Match programmes – End requirement for Clubs to deliver centrally-sold EFL
   advertising inventory in club programmes;
6. ‘Agreed’ decisions – Allow uncontested disciplinary proceedings to be resolved by way
   of an agreed decision process;
7. Safeguarding – Board seeking mandate to implement Operational Standards;
8. Groundsharing – New agreements to be limited to football plus one other team from
   another sport. Where sharing with another sport clubs will be required to install a hybrid
   pitch;
9. Visiting supporters – Clubs must provide not less than 100 seats under cover to visiting
   supporters.

BROADCASTING
 IFOLLOW UPDATE

IFOLLOW SUCCESS – 2017/18

IFOLLOW - UPDATE
 Live streaming in the UK & Ireland of League games will be available on iFollow for certain
 matches from 2018/19 season;
 The production values of all games – both domestic and international - will be enhanced for the
 video streams to include home and away commentary, graphics;
 In some cases – multi-camera production will be in operation;
 2018/19 season packages will be available to buy in mid-June;
 Pricing for domestic is currently being finalised;
 The product will be a match pass product due to impact of TV selections;
 Additional updates/enhancements to improve the digital experience both for iFollow and the wider
 websites and apps will be rolled out across the summer.

BROADCAST SELECTIONS

TV SELECTONS - BACKGROUND
 In 2016, the EFL made the five week minimum commitment;
 A much improved position;
 Part of that commitment was to announce fixtures within three days of selection;
 Selection dates are agreed between the EFL and Sky;
 Matches selected are released in tranches up until moving to a five week rolling process;
 Policy amended in 2017/18 for penultimate weekend.

TV SELECTIONS - CURRENT POSITION
 In 2017/18, the EFL has on average given seven weeks’ notice;
 It has missed the stated minimum five week notice period on two occasions (April 2018);
 It also missed the commitment to confirm in three days at least once (April 2018);
 The feeling from supporters is that the position is confusing;
 Selection dates misinterpreted for announcement dates.

TV SELECTIONS 2018/19
 EFL to remove the three day notice period;
 The EFL will continue to uphold the minimum five week commitment;
 Dates announced will be the dates when tranches of fixtures will be made public;
 The same principle to extend to rolling five-week period;
 The change made in 2017/18 in regards to giving three weeks’ notice for the penultimate
 weekend will be maintained;
 The EFL will notify Clubs and the public of announcement dates on or before, 21 June 2018.

LATE NOTICE
WEATHER POSTPONEMENT

POSTPONEMENTS
Derby County v Cardiff City fixture postponed on safety grounds in March;

Due to contrasting reports of the circumstances surrounding the decision, EFL asked both
Clubs for their views;

The EFL was subsequently provided with a comprehensive report including a full risk
assessment by Derby County as to the steps taken in the build-up to the decision being
made;

Decision to postpone was taken by the Club - reached following earlier consultation with
the SAG, which includes the Police, other Emergency Services and Derby City Council;

In light of club submissions, clear that correct decision was made but we committed to re-
issuing protocol in the event of a similar set of circumstances.

POSTPONEMENTS
Requirements in relation to the Fitness and Condition of the Playing Surface and
procedures if the pitch condition is in doubt.

Protocol for Fitness and Condition of the Stadium Footprint and Surrounding Areas
including:
  Regulation 31.1;
  Every effort to ensure fixture is played;
  Integrity of the competition;
  Independent Assessment of the circumstances – may include written advice from SAG or
  members or photographic evidence;
  Postponement only with EFL approval.

RESTRICTED VIEWS

COMMUNITY

Using the Power of Sport to
change people’s lives in
EFL Club Communities

A UNIQUE POSITION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES
The EFL Trust is the Official Charity of EFL, supporting the fantastic
work of the network of the 72 Clubs in their Communities across the 3
leagues;
Whilst the individual Club Trusts respond to the needs of their local
community, the EFL Trust focuses its work on delivering projects and
funding across the network, based on the following themes:

  Sport and Health

  Education

  Community Engagement

DERBY COUNTY – ACTIVE CHOICES
Community Club of the Year – Announced April 2018
Derby County Community Trust invested £1.7m into the
community in 2017 reaching over 17,000 participants;
Derby County projects range from teaching young children about
healthy eating to helping reduce the risk of falling in the older
generation. Their youngest participant was aged 3 and the
oldest 98;
One key project, Active Choices, aided the recovery of
substance misuse for 174 people in 2017 including Marek Hyde,
who recovered from drug abuse to play in the England
Homeless World Cup team.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA
Charlton Athletic Community Trust invested £5.5m in their
community last year on projects that improved health,
education and which tackled many difficult social issues;
The projects produced an estimated social value for the
local community of over £31m;
Charlton became the first professional football club
Community Trust in the UK to affiliate a LGBT football team
- CACT Invicta FC.

NOTTS COUNTY - LEADERS IN MENTAL HEALTH
 In 2018/2019 season, EFL will be partnering with Mind to focus
 on raising awareness of mental health in EFL communities;
 Many Clubs already focus on mental health projects, including
 Notts County;
 Notts County’s project “On the Ball”, has received several
 awards. The project uses football to build team working,
 communication and social skills;
 Participants benefit from a healthier lifestyle and regular activity,
 giving them more energy and helping them feel more positive

EFL OFFICIAL CHARITY PARTNER
             MIND

OFFICIAL CHARITY PARTNERSHIP

NAMES AND NUMBERS – 2018/19

THE “SQUIGGLE”

AOB

THANK YOU