Clubs in the Football League will be required to produce and deliver a Fan Engagement Plan from the 2024/25 season onwards.

This was decided at an EGM of the EFL on Friday (June 7).

It means clubs will be required to publish a FEP on an annual basis which will be overseen by a senior club official.

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This requirement builds on the work clubs are already undertaking with supporters including hosting two meetings or fan forums each season to get their views on key issues faced.

Watford hosted four ‘At Our/Your Place’ forums last season: the first in August at London Colney was attended by chairman Scott Duxbury and the then head coach Valerien Ismael amongst others.

In January, the club held an At Your Place event discussing retail, ticketing, hospitality catering, partnerships and sponsorship at Wealdstone FC, and then a second covering matchdays which took place at Sun Sports FC.

In May, Academy director Richard Johnson was part of the panel that spoke to fans about the club’s younger teams at the training ground.

Friday’s EGM on the Football League also saw them introduce a new regulation which now requires clubs to either have or establish a Club Community Organisation (CCO) to support the objectives of the Club in delivering community sports education and charitable activity.

Previously there was no such arrangement in place and whilst clubs have been supporting their communities through their Club Community Organisations for many years, this now formalises the position.

In addition, Clubs and the CCO must now have a legally binding service level agreement (SLA) that meets the requirements of guidance provided by the EFL and EFL in the Community. It also requires the Club to procure the CCO’s compliance with the SLA.

A further new regulation has come into effect requiring disabled supporters with general admission tickets to be situated with fellow away club supporters.

Previously this has not been the case in all circumstances and clubs have agreed all away supporters should be provided with the opportunity to be sat with one another.