Sunderland fan groups delighted as meetings with club to resume

In yet another positive development for Sunderland AFC and its supporters, the democratic fan group Red & White Army (RAWA) announced on Wednesday evening that the club have agreed a date to resume the regular “Structured Dialogue” meetings between fan groups and senior club representatives, including Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, on Wednesday 24th March. Fans will be represented by four members from RAWA, four from the Branch Liaison Council (BLC), four from the SAFC Liaison Group, two from the Senior Supporters Association.

Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman, who oversees the football side of the club, and Chief Operating Officer Steve Davison, a lifelong Lads fan who is in charge of the commercial side of the business, will also be on the Zoom call to answer questions on topics that could range from season ticket arrangements, the return of fans, the future of women’s football at the club and improvements to facilities at the Stadium of Light.

Andrew Hird, Chair of the RAWA Committee, told Roker Report that he was delighted that the channels of communication between the new club board and the fans have been reopened:

It is great to see the new ownership engaging with supporters via structured dialogue. It will give supporters the ability to put questions forward to the recently appointed Sporting Director and Chief Operational Officer and we very much welcome the opportunity to engage with them.

Structured Dialogue meetings are meant to be held on a regular basis in order for the club to hear the voices, ideas and concerns of the fans. The Madrox ownership group initially engaged well with RAWA and the other fan groups, but the relationship broke down following the failed takeover by the American consortium in autumn 2019, and Charlie Methven’s “incredibly uneducated” comment to the meeting in November of that year, the minutes of which have never been officially released.

This development marks a reinvigoration of that work, and will be seen as another constructive step in new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ transformation the club, building on the letter sent to season ticket holders last week.

If you have any questions that you would like putting to the club during the Structured Dialogue meeting, you can send them directly to RAWA by clicking here, to the BLC via your local branch, or leave your comment below this article we will pass them on to the RAWA committee ahead of the meeting later this month.