New SLO Philip will be United fans’ link with parent club

A regular face at United games both home and away, Cullybackey man Philip is a committee member for the Seven Towers Ballymena United Supporters’ Club and was appointed to the role following a meeting with club officials last week.

The introduction of a new UEFA licensing requirement from season 2012/13 for all clubs to have an operating supporter liaison officer (SLO) marks an important new chapter in club-supporter relations and emphasises how important this relationship is considered for the football club.

Supporter liaison officers at clubs already exist in a limited number of European countries and primarily help improve the dialogue between the fans and the clubs they follow.

Most importantly, SLOs must be credible with supporters, and therefore should have experience with, and contacts to, the networks in the club’s fan base.

They inform supporters about relevant decisions made by the club’s management board and, in the other direction, communicate the needs of the fans to the board, as well as building relationships not just with various fan groups and initiatives, but with the police and security officers.

They will also engage with fan liaison officers of other clubs before matches to ensure that fans behave in accordance with security guidelines.

Philip commented on his new role; “I look forward to this role and I will put all that I can into it.

“This is set in place to improve the relationship with the fans and the club and a sense of pulling together as such,” he added.