- New initiative launched to gain views of Scottish football fans
- Former First Minister Henry McLeish backs new programme
- Roadshows launch in Edinburgh with Hibs and Hearts legends
A new initiative to gain a wider view of Scottish football fans’ opinions on issues of national importance throughout Scotland has been launched by Supporters Direct Scotland.
Supporters Direct Scotland has already had talks with the Scottish Football Association, The Scottish Football League and The Scottish Premier League about working with them in the coming months and years.
The ‘Fans Parliament’ initiative will allow a two way communication with all fans of all clubs, from senior to amateur and in every community in the country, to help Supporters Direct Scotland gather fans’ views on issues of importance for the first time. This will enable us to become a credible organisation which representing football supporters’ views which can then help stimulate informed debate about issues in Scottish football with the Scottish Government and the football authorities.
Included in the ‘Fans Parliament’ initiative will be the new ScottishFans.org website, a series of roadshows across the country, increased engagement at matches and social media channels and a series of surveys on specific topics concerning the game.
The roadshow events will begin in Edinburgh on the 28th of October with Hibs and Hearts legends Pat Stanton and Gary Mackay taking part in the debate.
Henry McLeish said, “It has been a unique year for football fans in Scotland, on a local as well as national basis, with ordinary fans’ voices being heard loud and clear in a way they’ve never been heard, or listened to, before. Now there is a drive and determination to ensure that the momentum that was gained isn’t lost.
The new ‘Fans Parliament’ initiative will provide a platform for fans to continue the debate in the knowledge that these opinions will be shared with the Scottish Government and to the organisations running football in Scotland.”
Paul Goodwin, Head of Supporters Direct in Scotland said: “Fans voices are being listened to more than ever before and we know that in recent months there has been an unprecedented debate about the game in Scotland. Through Supporters Direct Scotland fans will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on issues of importance to them which can help inform both the football authorities and government and we want the new ‘Fans Parliament’ initiative to be the conduit for the debate and discussion between fans across the country and, in effect, be the voice of Scottish football fans.