The president of fan-owned Exeter City Football Club has said he will try to bring a “different perspective” to the top level of the English Football League (EFL) after being appointed to its board of directors.
Julian Tagg, the League One side’s president and director of external affairs, will represent all 24 clubs in the division as an alternative director and will also sit on the EFL’s commercial committee.
Mr Tagg will attend board meetings should any directors be unable to attend. He served as an alternative director for League Two prior to the team's promotion last season, and was appointed to the League One role following a vote by the existing EFL board members.
A former manager and player for the Grecians’ reserves team, Mr Tagg previously worked as a physical education lecturer at Exeter College for 20 years, before retiring to focus on other ventures, including a property business.
Mr Tagg stepped up to board at St James Park when the club was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters' Trust in 2003. Since taking control the trust has contributed around £2m in donations to the club.
He said: “It’s a real honour to be selected for this position and I’m looking forward to attending both the board meetings and being part of the commercial committee.
“As well as representing the clubs in League One, it is an opportunity to inform my fellow directors about our successful ownership model and bring a different perspective to the table.”
The EFL board of directors is responsible for providing the organisation's strategic direction. It consists of nine directors, six of whom are divisional representatives elected by member clubs.
The divisional representatives include three directors from Championship clubs, two from League One Clubs and one from a League Two club. The remaining three directors are independent of clubs.
Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “Julian represented the club incredibly professionally and with great consideration as the League Two alternative director, so we’re delighted that he is taking the same position as we commence our time in League One.
“As a supporter-owned club we often bring a different viewpoint to other clubs, and we believe it’s vital that this is heard often and at the appropriate opportunities.”
The only other two clubs currently playing in the EFL that are majority-owned by their fans are League Two sides AFC Wimbledon and Newport County AFC.
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