The Walsall Supporters’ Trust welcomes the publication of the 2026/27 Fan Engagement Plan

The Walsall Football Supporters’ Trust welcomes the publication of the 2026/27 Fan Engagement Plan. It is a positive step forward and demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving transparency, increasing access to senior staff and providing supporters with more regular updates. The club should be commended for recognising the importance of structured supporter engagement.

As minority shareholder in the club, we would also encourage a clearer distinction between communication and consultation. While improved media access, interviews, videos and social media content all have value, they are primarily methods of communication rather than consultation. Meaningful consultation requires supporters to have opportunities to influence decisions before they are taken and, most importantly, to see how those views have informed concrete outcomes.

Similarly, while the increased emphasis on digital content is welcome, there should be a balance between creating engaging media and facilitating genuine dialogue. Some supporters may perceive an increasing focus on directing fans towards platform-based content as a communications strategy, whereas effective supporter engagement should prioritise accessible two-way conversations wherever supporters choose to engage.

The Trust would therefore welcome future iterations of the plan placing greater emphasis on measurable consultation outcomes, representative engagement mechanisms and clear evidence of how supporter feedback has influenced strategic and operational decisions. Doing so would strengthen an already positive document and help ensure the club continues to meet both the spirit and the expectations of the developing regulatory framework.

Finally, as the democratic and representative voice of Walsall Football Supporters Trust members, the Trust also renews its long-standing position for formal supporter representation within the club’s governance structures. Our constitution commits us to achieving the greatest possible supporter influence in the running of the Club and specifically identifies democratic and accountable representation within the Club’s governance as one of our core objectives. Whether through representation on the Board, a Non-Executive Advisory Panel or another formal governance mechanism, we believe this would strengthen consultation, improve accountability and ensure supporter perspectives are embedded at the highest level of decision-making.