Fill yer boots....
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11517
Football fans are never short of an opinion or two but now Saints supporters are being given the chance to have their views heard…
Southampton Football Club have agreed to help set up an independent Fans Parliament which aims to give supporters more of a voice in the way the club is run.
Southampton FC Chairman Michael Wilde says that decisions on the way the Parliament will be established and run have already taken place and the plans are now ready to be put into action.
"Our proposals for the new Fans Parliament will work in a similar way to the system that already operates very successfully at Wolverhampton Wanderers," he explained.
"Last week I met with the Club's Commercial Director, John O'Sullivan and our Head of Supporter Services, David Luker and we have formulated an initial plan for how the Parliament will be established.
"From the very outset, we are very keen to highlight that whilst the Club will provide help and assistance at every opportunity, the Parliament, when formed, will be an independent body working outside of the Club's remit.
"The aim of this independent body will be to give all fans a voice that may otherwise be lost amidst the clamour and somewhat ad-hoc nature of many current supporters initiatives."
Wilde also revealed the details of how the Parliament will be formed, and its make up once established.
"Initially, we will look to help set up a Selection Committee whose role will be to eventually run the nomination process for supporters' representatives to sit on the Parliament," he continued.
"The committee will be made up of a maximum of 6 people, with no more than two coming from the Club itself. We would therefore invite fans to nominate fellow supporters who they feel have the best interests of the Club at heart, and who would be able to work within a small democratically run committee."
The deadline for nominations to the Selection Committee will be 31st March and the Club will evaluate all such applicants, with this being the only role the Club will have in the incorporation process.
"Once the Committee has been chosen, they will then look to invite nominations for supporters to sit within the Parliament. We hope that this process would begin in about a month from now, with the inaugural meeting of the new Parliament aiming to take place immediately prior to the start of the 2009/10 season.
"It is anticipated that the Parliament will initially comprise between 20 and 25 supporters representing a diverse range of supporter interests. A full list of categories will be published following the first meeting of the new Selection Committee and nominations invited shortly thereafter. The aim of the Selection Committee will be to ensure that every category of supporter is represented within the Parliament. "
"Any supporter with issues or questions to raise with the Club through the Parliament will be able to contact the relevant representative to raise the issue on their behalf. Contact details of all representatives will be permanently published on the Club's website as will the minutes of every meeting which will also be made available to the media."
It is intended that the Parliament will meet at least four times a year with an independent "speaker" being appointed to take charge of the meetings.
The Club will provide administrative support on an ongoing basis and will ensure that both the Club's board members and senior management are available as necessary to address and respond to the many and varied issues that will be discussed.
"We are fully confident that once set up, the Parliament will be a great conduit for our supporters to discuss issues with the Club, and make suggestions where they deem appropriate, on a whole range of issues such as ticket pricing, merchandise ranges etc. I also believe that the feedback the Club receives from the Parliament will be very important in assisting the formulation of ongoing policies.
"I encourage all supporters to embrace, support and contribute to this important initiative. This is a fantastic opportunity for supporters of all types to make their voices heard within an organised, constructive and proactive environment."
Fans wishing to nominate someone for the Fans Parliament Selection Committee should send there nominations to the following address:
FANS PARLIAMENT, FREEPOST, ST. MARY'S, BRITANNIA ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON. SO14 5FP.
