We are delighted to announce an exciting opportunity to become the Club’s very first Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) to develop and shape the role.
In accordance with UEFA policy, Barrow recognise the importance of the role of SLO and are looking to make an appointment to fulfil the following functions:
- To act as a communications bridge between the fans and the Club and contribute towards maintaining a dialogue between the two parties
- To inform fans about relevant decisions made by the Club’s management and, in the other direction, to communicate questions and the views, concerns and needs of the fans to the Club’s management
- To build internal relationships with various fan groups, and external relationships with their counterparts in other football clubs, and with the police and safety officers responsible for the safety of fans where matches are being played
The SLO has to be an advocate of both sides, to be impartial, and to represent the views of both Club and fans fairly, unbiased and without prejudice.
Neither Club nor fans may be seen to be favoured by the SLOs. Equally, the SLO has to be credible and have the respect and acceptance of both the Club and the fans, and external agencies, in order to be able to do their job properly.
The SLO should make every effort to attend all Club First Team matches, home and away.
The SLO is expected to resign any positions of authority within supporters’ organisations or the Club to ensure impartiality.
This will be a fixed term appointment of two years, upon which the position holder will be invited to re-apply and interview with any other candidates.
The Club reserves the right to review the appointment at any point during the tenure.
KEY SKILLS
- Experience and contact with key supporter networks at local and national levels
- Sound understanding of social media
- Commitment to key values such as anti-discrimination and the rejection of violence
- Good communication and conflict resolution skills
- High degree of commitment, motivation, reliability and flexibility
- Ability to communicate, in particular in groups and in public
- Service-oriented thinking and behaviour
- Assured negotiating skills and assertiveness
- Appropriate life experience and experience of dealing with fans; knowledge of and contacts within the club’s fan base
- Flexibility (time-wise), especially at weekends
- Personal resilience
- Professional manner
- Calming, de-escalating, de-emotionalising professional conduct in stress and conflict situations
POTENTIAL DUTIES
The SLO’s duties can be split into three areas: home matchdays, away matchdays and ‘between matches’.
- Home matchdays
Before the match
- Consult with supporter groups regarding any displays of flags, banners, etc., assist with coordinating procedures for such displays and assist with preparation of any planned on-pitch supporters’ presentations
- Mingle with supporters in pubs and bars around and within the stadium
- Meet the visiting team’s SLO on arrival and be available to answer any outstanding questions about the day’s arrangements
During the match
- Mingle with supporters and be contactable by phone
During half-time
- Mingle with fans in main gathering points, or take up a presence at a well-publicised, accessible information point (e.g. the Trust shop) to be available to answer any supporter questions / assist with queries and / or problems.
After the match
- Take up a presence in the vicinity of the information point (or similar contact place) and communicate there with fans
- Summarise any complaints from fans at the match and try to establish the circumstances and underlying reasons for these complaints and any other issues that arose
- Away matchdays
In advance of the match
- Collate and distribute travel information, including details of meeting places / pubs for away fans
- Contact the home team’s SLO
- Provide information for supporters about the upcoming game on the club website, via social media and by e-mail / phone contact with supporters’ groups, etc.
Before the match
- Mingle with supporters in pubs and bars around and within the stadium
- Meet supporter coaches as they disembark
- Meet the host club SLO
- Be available to answer any outstanding questions about the day’s arrangements
- Provide a presence for imparting information outside of the away supporters’ section of the ground
During the game
- Mingle with supporters and be contactable by phone
After the game
- Take up a presence near the away section exit, communicate with fans as they leave and monitor their departure
- Summarise any complaints from fans at the match and try to establish the circumstances and underlying reasons for these complaints and any other issues that arose
- Between Matches
- Endeavour to attend all meetings of organised fans groups, e.g. National Supporters Club and Bluebirds Trust
- Be available in person at the Progression Solicitors Stadium at well-publicised set times for supporters to call in and ask questions, (i.e. ‘consulting hours’)
- Actively communicate with supporters via letter, e-mail, telephone and all forms of social media, including maintaining a regular presence on fans’ forums
- Organise / attend meetings to inform fans about the latest developments at the club / deal with fan-related requests and concerns
- Initiate meetings between supporters and club representatives and institutional representatives (police, stewards, local authorities, etc.), for example, with the aim of improving dialogue between the various parties and their understanding of each other’s roles and views
- Work with the media, e.g. Radio Cumbria and The Mail, paying special attention to ensuring that supporter liaison work and fans in general are accurately portrayed in the media
- Attend relevant national and regional meetings of the Football Supporters Federation, being present as a very minimum at the organisations’ annual Supporters Summit
- Act as a point of liaison between Club officials and supporters facing a possible stadium ban and ensuring on the supporter’s behalf that due process is followed and that the supporter is made aware of his / her rights, including in respect of representation and appeal
- Assist supporter groups with the staging of events, e.g. by arranging for the presence of Club staff and / or players
- Communicate / network with the SLOs of other clubs, attending regional and national meetings
The Process
- Submit a statement of up to 500 words to explain why you feel you would be suitable for the job. This should be submitted to office@barrowafc.com by Friday 2nd October at 4pm.
- A shortlist will be drawn up as required by the Interview Panel.
- Interviews will be held via Zoom in the week commencing Monday 5th October.
- The successful candidate will be announced on or before Monday 12th October.