As many of you will be aware, there was a meeting yesterday (15/04/25) between the Engagement Panel (EP) and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club (SWFC). We know that our members want to know what questions were asked and what was said. Rather than say nothing and allow misinformation, this update is to explain why we cannot give you more information at this stage and the agreed process that will allow you to receive that information.
The Trust was allowed to rejoin the EP last month. This followed lobbying from other EP members for the Trust to be readmitted and we welcome the hard work that the EP did to achieve that. We understand that the Trust was ejected from the EP previously by the club for breaking confidentiality, although as none of those Trust directors are still on the board and we are not clear on the exact circumstances.
When Trust representatives join the EP for meetings, they sign a confidentiality statement within the Terms of Reference for the meetings. This effectively means we decide not to disclose information without prior consent. We have no problem with agreeing to non-disclosure as this as it is standard business practice.
The EP compiled a list of questions to put to the club on Monday night. Yesterday’s meeting went on from 12.30pm to around 6pm.
The club produces the minutes of the meeting, and the minutes can then be amended or added to by EP members if the club agrees. The club then summarises the minutes and publishes them on the club’s website. Groups cannot publish any details of the meeting prior to that point.
We therefore cannot currently explain further on the meeting or our experience of it until the agreed minutes are published.
The Sheffield Wednesday Fan Engagement Panel was set up by the club, under their rules, to conduct their version of engagement with fans. The Trust is one of 14 members of the Engagement Panel and has an equal voice with all other members of the panel. We are also the newest member. The Trust does not chair the panel.
As we have said previously, we have worked for some time to join the EP as we believe that the Trust, as the largest fan group and only fully affiliated member of the Football Supporters Association, should be represented. We are grateful for the support of other EP members in achieving this. We therefore take being part of the EP seriously.
The EP model, in its current iteration, is specific to dealing with the club in its regular meetings with fan representatives. The Trust, as a fully democratic body, has a very different role in representing our members' voice in other areas of supporting Sheffield Wednesday. Other groups in the EP have their own agendas and democratic processes too. None of us need EP approval to act for our members' benefit.
Just to mention that the survey finishes today (16 April) at 5pm for those final votes.
One of our members wrote to us following the Oxford game regarding his treatment within the stadium for wearing a T-Shirt with ‘Chansiri Out’ on the front. We are horrified by the account and are seeking to speak with the fan, who is in his seventies, about his experience. Naturally, he wishes to remain anonymous and is very shaken by the incident. We would be interested to hear if this is an isolated incident or part of a crackdown on fans expressing their views on the Chairman.
Let's keep going, nothing worth winning is easy.
Best regards,
Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust – 16 April 2025
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