Everton have confirmed the start of the process of electing members to the club's independent Fan Advisory Board (FAB).
The FAB will ultimately consist of supporters from various demographics and they will be consulted on a plethora of strategical factors. Everton have also confirmed the FAB will regularly be in touch with key decision-makers at the football club, including the board of directors.
There will be 11 members on the new independent Board, seven of which will be representatives of various groups that make up the Everton Stakeholder Steering Group.
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These positions will be three-year terms and will include elected members from within the Everton Disabled Supporters’ Association (ESDA), the Everton Fans’ Forum, the Everton Supporters’ Club Committee, the Everton Heritage Society, the Everton Women Supporters’ Club, a member from a group associated to the Football Supporters’ Association and a representative of Everton’s International Supporters’ Club network.
The other four positions will be taken up by winners of "an open and independently-verified vote."
However, the club have confirmed that there will be at least one shareholder and at least "one supporter representing a group with a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act of 2010."
Two of the unreserved positions will be three-year terms and the other two will be one-year roles.
The establishment of such a body is part of the Toffees' effort to ensure fan representation is at the heart of the club's decision-making going forward.
The results of the Government's fan-led review were recently released, in which it was noted that ownership models such as the 50+1 rule in Germany will be considered moving forward, thus enhancing supporter involvement and safeguarding teams from reckless ownership.
The review was moved forward after the European Super League debacle last season, in which 12 European clubs sought to break away from the standardised domestic league format. Everton were highly critical of the attempted coup from their Premier League peers.
Evertonians who want to apply to be part of the FAB can do so HERE .