Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust’ is delighted to announce, in conjunction with Nottingham Forest Football Club, that both parties have reached agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will formalise communication between both organisations.
Only the third agreement of its kind across the 92 professional clubs in the English league system, the MoU is the latest in a series of moves to place supporters at the very heart of the club’s regeneration.
Nottingham Forest Chairman, Nicholas Randall Q.C. today said:
“The owners and board of Nottingham Forest are delighted to enter into this MoU with the Supporters’ Trust as part of our fan engagement procedures. We believe that we are merely custodians of the club, which is rooted in its fan base and local community. We have already created close links with the Supporters’ Club, Forza Garibaldi and others to ensure fans are being consulted on the issues that impact them.
“The MoU now in place with the Supporters’ Trust is another step on this journey. The organisations work to date has been of great importance and there is now a real opportunity to work together to ensure that the fans are central to everything the football club does.”
The MoU will see the Trust consulted on a range of matters including specific commitment to engage on any matters pertaining to the stadium, club crest or colours. In addition the agreement will see the two parties continue the regular dialogue that has taken place since the arrival of the new executive board on Trentside, providing a genuine opportunity for fans to have real input across a whole range of matters.
NFST Secretary, Andy Caddell, commented:
“The significance of this formal agreement should not be underestimated; only two other Trusts across all 92 professional clubs have an MoU in place with their clubs and it’s our members who have given us the legitimacy to not only be able to engage with the club on behalf of those members, but to reach this milestone that gives all of us, as fans of this special club, a say in its future.
“The message to members of Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust (NFST), and the wider fan base across the world, is clear – your voices will be heard and your opinions matter.”
NFST follow in the footsteps of Fulham Supporters’ Trust and the Canaries Trust in signing MoU’s with the clubs they represent; no other clubs in the EFL or Premier League currently have agreements in place.
Deborah Dilworth, PL/EFL network manager also added:
“The signing of the third MoU in the country between Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust and the club is fantastic news. The agreement being reached is symbolic of the desire to proactively engage supporters within the club setup. It is also public acknowledgment from the club that supporters are key stakeholders. Impressive work all round from both the Trust and the club!”
All media enquiries: comms@nffctrust.org