The chair of influential Liverpool fans' union, Spirit of Shankly, will step aside from the role to focus his efforts on the LFC Supporters' Board.
Joe Blott has been the head of SOS for the past four years but was also given a similar position on the LFC Supporters' Board when it was first created in the aftermath of the controversial Super League proposals that were doomed inside 48 hours of their public existence in 2021.
Later that year, it was confirmed the club would create the Supporters' Board in an effort to bring "meaningful fan representation" to boardroom level at Anfield with Mr Blott chosen to chair the 16-strong group that was made up of key figures from a variety of diverse fan groups within Liverpool's worldwide supporter-base.
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The Supporters' Board meet with club owners Fenway Sports Group twice a year to liaise on a number of wide-ranging issues and Mr Blott, who will remain on the management committee of SOS, will now step down as chair as he aims to develop the LFC Supporters' Board further.
During his time with Spirit of Shankly, Mr Blott helped fans push back on a number of controversial decisions at Liverpool that included the plan to use the Government's Furlough and Job Retention Scheme following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, as well FSG's plan to try and trademark the word 'Liverpool' and the aforementioned Super League debacle.
More recently, Mr Blott was a key figure in helping exonerate Liverpool supporters for the Champions League final horrors outside the Stade de France 12 months ago that saw some fans tear-gassed by riot police and pickpocketed and assaulted by local criminals in Saint-Denis.
In an email to members that has been seen by the ECHO, a statement reads: "When I took on the role we almost immediately ran into conflict with LFC as they sought to trademark the name ‘Liverpool’ – something which many of us simply could not accept.
"As fans we stood in solidarity with local traders and the city council in resolute opposition to what could only be described as capitalist greed. Following strong campaigning, LFC dropped its attempts to trademark. Less than six months later, the world was hit by Covid-19 and football was hit hard.
"Indeed, literally from day one of the outbreak, we were challenging the Government and UEFA over their folly to allow fans from Madrid to travel to Liverpool when they could not even watch football in their own stadium due to the virus.
"As we now know, our fears were well-founded as numerous fans who attended that match in March 2020 did indeed fall victim to the virus. Then we saw the ridiculous situation of a multi-billion pound business attempting to take advantage of a Government scheme set up to help at-risk businesses in order to furlough its staff – and again we rose to the challenge, highlighting its inappropriateness.
"Sure enough the club listened and LFC dropped its claim. Despite these badly thought out ideas, working relationships with LFC remained good and together we were able to spread the necessary public health messages to manage the Covid-19 pandemic and eventually see a safe and managed return of supporters into Anfield.
"Not long after this, the proposed Super League came along. Rather than dwell on it as a badly thought out concept, I led our negotiations with LFC to an agreement which increased our influence but retained our independence. I have also led our affiliates to a position where all have been fully constituted and have democratically elected their Supporters Board representative.
"Working with the FSA, I was also able to participate in the Government’s Fan-Led Review, which has recommended a similar model based on this work. I am proud that the FSA continues to contact me for advice and guidance as they prepare other trusts for full fan engagement.
"Then came the debacle of the Champions League final in Paris last May. What should have been a celebration of football turned into a living nightmare for so many. We know what happened and we know who was to blame, but the fingers of blame immediately turned to us, the supporters.
"However within 26 days, following my appearance at the French Senate, the narrative changed, and it was confirmed that Liverpool fans were not to blame. Alongside other colleagues I represented fans at the UEFA Independent Inquiry which, as we now know, completely exonerated Liverpool supporters.
"Following further discussions with UEFA, we have seen refunds given to LFC supporters and our fight continues to achieve lasting reforms."
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