Manchester United have confirmed today that they are finalising plans for a new Fan Advisory Board and an expanded Fans’ Forum, following the meetings with fan representatives and MUST.

The Terms of Reference and composition of both bodies have been agreed in consultation with the existing Fans’ Forum, and with MUST in its capacity as the accredited independent fan group representing United supporters.

Collette Roche, Manchester United Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are pleased with the progress made so far towards building a framework for more effective engagement between the club and its supporters. As Joel Glazer told the Fans’ Forum in June, we are committed to strengthening fan representation and the role of fans at the heart of the club; and the new Fan Advisory Board and expanded Fans’ Forum will help that process.”

The Fan Advisory Board will be made up of seven senior fan representatives and up to five club executives. The purpose of this is to create a way to have proper dialogue between the fans and ownership on fan-related issues and strategic matters, and will meet quarterly with one of the Executive Co-Chairmen attending at least once a year.

Membership of the Forum will be increased from 11 to 16, to allow the body to become more truly representative of the club’s diverse fan base. Additions to the Forum will include representatives for the Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club, youth supporters under the age of 21, and international members.

Recruitment to the two bodies will begin in the coming weeks. More information on the criteria for the representative roles and how to apply will be published at that time.

Progress has also been made in discussions with MUST about the creation of a mutually beneficial fan share scheme which would give fans access to a new class of shares each with the same high-vote rights as the B shares held by the Glazer family. This is yet to be finalised but after years of ignoring us, the protests which led to the cancellation of our game against Liverpool has finally woken Joel Glazer up.