• General
• Aims & objectives
• End goals
• Principal issues of discussion
• Representation on the Forum
• Division of places
• Rollover of members
• Procedure to Serve on the Forum
• Location & Frequency of Meetings
• Chair & Minutes
• Travel & Expenses
• Agenda of the Meetings
• Appendix one

1) GENERAL

The body will be a consultative forum, which will be an opportunity for a representation of supporters to discuss various issues concerning Manchester United Football Club with senior members of the administration team.

2) AIMS & OBJECTIVES

• To create an environment for a cross section of fans to interact with club officials;
• To develop a better understanding of fans wants and needs;
• To provide a channel of open communication in order that the club can present its policies.

3) END GOALS

• To develop services for fans that are valued and enhance their relationship with the club;
• To increase fan loyalty;
• To recruit new fans;
• To create a co-operative environment between the club and its fans that enables the club to develop the best business structure to support a successful football team.

4) PRINCIPAL ISSUES OF DISCUSSION (ARISING FROM THE CUSTOMER CHARTER)

• Supporter consultations
• Ticketing
• Merchandise
• Away supporters
• Community activities
• Complaints procedures

5) REPRESENTATION ON THE FORUM

There will be no less than 12 and no more than 18 individuals on the Forum at any time. The Forum will be composed of individuals selected to represent the major sections of support for MUFC. The Club will decide the precise number of representatives from supporters and administration, in consultation with the Forum.

These individuals will not, however, be required to represent the views of sectional interests, and are there to provide their own opinions. Some individuals (such as those representing independent supporter groups or supporters' branches) may wish to take soundings amongst their fellow supporters. However, this is a matter for them, and they are in no way expected to represent anyone not present at the meeting.

A reserve cannot be nominated to fill the place of an individual for a particular missed meeting.

Where an individual is no longer able to attend meetings at all, a reserve will take their place for the remaining period of time that they have to serve.

6) DIVISION OF PLACES

See Appendix One for the initial breakdown of places.

Any prospective representative must have reached the age of 18 no later than the closing date for selection.

7) ROLLOVER OF MEMBERS OF THE FORUM

It would prove beneficial to the group to have a gradual change of membership, to allow the views of other supporters to contribute to the discussion.

However, this should be balanced with an element of continuity, so that there is not wholesale change after a certain period of time.

Two years will be the optimum period of time for a representative to serve. Therefore at the final meeting of the first year, lots will be drawn for half (or one less than half if an odd number) of the supporters to be replaced. Those people would then be replaced on the basis of a new round of selection in the same way as described below. New members selected at that point will then serve for two full years.

The remaining members of the original Forum will serve for an additional year before selection is held to replace them.

Thus a rolling two-year procedure will have been established.

It is important for the Forum to allow a variety of views to be heard. Therefore no individual can sit on the Forum for two consecutive periods of representation.

8) PROCEDURE TO SERVE ON THE FORUM

The selection process will be administered independently from MUFC. The general procedures will be as follows:-

For Groups A - E (Appendix One), an application form must be completed and returned to the independent scrutineer. The application form will be available from either the club programme, the club directly, or via other reasonable means of communication as decided by the club.

Thereafter, a draw will take place for the requisite number of representatives from each group. In addition, the names of three reserves will be drawn for each group.

For Group F (Appendix One), those branches wishing to be represented will inform the club. The names of the successful branch(es) will then be drawn by the independent scrutineer. Each successful branch will then be contacted to supply a representative.

If a reserve is needed at a later date, the same branch as the retiring representative will again be approached to provide another individual.

For Groups G- H (Appendix One), the independent scrutineer will contact each organisation, to request signed confirmation of (a) representative(s). Each organisation will be offered the opportunity to ballot their members should they so wish.

If a reserve is needed at a later date, the same organisation as the retiring representative will be approached to provide another individual for the duration of the original term.

9) LOCATION & FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

It is intended that the Forum will meet four times during the year.

The dates of the meetings will take place during the regular season, with meetings scheduled to co-incide with match days. See Appendix One for the initial dates and proposed times of meetings. These dates may be subject to change according to alterations to fixture dates and times.

It is envisaged that members of the Forum will thereafter (or before) be invited to watch the match.

10) CHAIR & MINUTES

There will be an independent Chair. This will not be a supporter or official of MUFC, and therefore will have no vested interest in the consultation process.

The minutes will also be prepared independently.

If a member of the Forum wants to present documentation to the meeting, MUFC will offer a reasonable level of secretarial support.

11) TRAVEL & EXPENSES

Reasonable travel and expenses costs may be paid for travel to and from the Forum. In some instances, this may include overnight accommodation (for those who travel a long distance).

12) AGENDA OF THE MEETINGS

The first meeting will take the role of a less formal session, in which the purpose of the Forum will be discussed, members will get to know each other, and a general discussion on identifying relevant agenda items can take place.

Thereafter, an agenda will be sent to members of the Forum prior to all ensuing meetings to allow members to give the issues due consideration. This may take the form of specific questions for members to consider, in order to provide some focus to their preparation.

A representative may introduce an item under Any Other Business, relating to a relevant topic, if time allows.

APPENDIX ONE:

The following will be the initial breakdown for the division of places:-

***This, of course, in no way prevents someone over-65, or disabled, from representing any of the other supporter groups.

Meeting dates for the Forum

Initial dates for meetings are as follows:-

23rd September 2000 (match vs. Chelsea)
2nd December 2000 (match vs. Spurs)
24th February 2001 (match vs. Arsenal)
5th May 2001 (match vs. Derby)

A provisional timetable for meetings on a match day would be as follows:-

11.30am kick off; meeting starts c. 2pm
3pm kick off; meeting starts c. 11.30am
4pm kick off; meeting starts c. 12.30pm.