FSA Network Meeting

On the 7th June 2023, in my role as FSA rep on the Wigan Athletic Official Supporters Club, I attended the EFL network meeting on Zoom. Latics clearly have bigger issues to deal with at the moment but that makes it even more important that the WAFC supporters club engage with the FSA.

The agenda was lengthy and diverse but it allowed for discussion on areas of pertinence to Wigan Athletic fans.

A meaty item was the new EFL broadcasting deal 24/25. https://www.efl.com/news/2023/may/efl-announces-landmark-broadcasting-deal-with-sky-sports/

You may be aware that this new agreement is going to move a lot more League 1 and 2 kick off times away from

the traditional 3pm kick offs. The entire network were in agreement that the EFL must provide enough notice of fixture changes to avoid unnecessary wasted expenditure. I argued for a more equitable distribution of broadcasting revenue to be afforded to league 1 and 2 clubs. Currently only 20% is distributed between the 48 clubs. I posited this point as attendances and gate receipts may be reduced by moving fixtures from the 3pm Saturday slots. In troubling times for EFL clubs this potential revenue loss is concerning.

Congratulations to Ian Bridge (Bolton Supporters Trust) who was elected to the EFL 1 and 2 National Council following a vote of FSA members before the meeting
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At the meeting we also discussed away seating allocations, cost of coach parking and loyalty schemes when purchasing tickets. All these issues have affected Latics fans in recent seasons.

Of particular interest to me was the item relating to younger fan engagement with the club. Younger fans are often given a bad name but the majority fantastic ideas that we as a supporters club want to embrace. At our AGM a younger fan was brought onto the committee. Part of this role will be to facilitate discussions with the younger generation of fans. They are the future and need to have a voice.

Happy to answer any questions about the meeting.
Cheers
Adam Pendlebury

fsa@wiganathleticsupportersclub.co.uk