Sheffield Wednesday have made announcements on forthcoming fan engagement plans.

The invitation of a supporter to the board at Sheffield Wednesday has been confirmed by the club, with six fan groups having been chosen to represent the fanbase in a newly set-up fan engagement process.

James Silverwood is a figure known to many Owls fans having acted as chair of the Supporters Trust and has been asked to join the board in a non-executive and unpaid facility. Silverwood, a university lecturer who was a founding member of the Trust, acted as an influential member of its board throughout the mobilisation against former owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent years and was present on the pitch at Hillsborough on May 2 as the club’s new ownership was officially unveiled.

The Star reported an intention to bring a supporter onto the Owls board some months ago and as outlined in a statement released by Wednesday on Thursday morning, a period of consultation will take place within the Trust before Silverwood moves to accept the invitation. Wednesday have extended the invitation in recognition of ‘James’ personal contribution, experience and expertise, with the role offered in an individual capacity, separate from his position with the Supporters’ Trust.’

Subject to that consultation, Silverwood is expected to join a board currently consisting of chairman and co-owner David Storch, co-owners Michael Storch and Tom Costin and CEO David Bruce. There is no mention of a formalised fan board position extending beyond Silverwood’s involvement as things stand.

Elsewhere, a tweaked fan engagement set-up has been confirmed, with six supporter groups chosen to join a ‘Fan Advisory Board’ (FAB), along with the implementation of further sub-groups. The Star understands fan groups were invited to lodge applications to the club and its supporter liaison office, with groups said to have been invited to join on the strength of those applications. Representatives from each group will form the FAB, with a first meeting to take place on November 3.

The FAB will comprise representatives from the following groups, including a collective organisation comprising of regional Wednesday fan groups across the country. A collective of international fan groups has also been outlined and will serve on a sub-group framed on fan experience.

The FAB group consists of:

Regional Supporters’ Groups Collective (UK)
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust
The SWFC Women’s Supporters’ Group
Wise Old Owls
Rainbow Owls
The Wednesday Voice

A Fan Experience panel is designed to focus on the matchday experience, stadium facilities, accessibility, supporter services and wider supporter experience - and will include The Trust, SWFC Women’s Supporters’ Group, Wednesday Voice, Armed Forces Owls, Wednesdayite and International Supporters’ Groups Collective.

A Ticketing sub-group includes: The Trust, Regional Supporters’ Groups Collective (UK), SODA and Wednesdayite.

A sub-group committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion includes: SODA, SWFC Women’s Supporters’ Group, Rainbow Owls, Armed Forces Owls and Wise Old Owls.

In a statement outlining these plans, Wednesday said in part: ‘These developments represent an important step in strengthening supporter representation and ensuring Wednesdayites have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the club’s future.’

A 13-page fan engagement plan shows the club are at ‘phase two’ of the three-step implementation plan with a first meeting to take place early next month. It details seven ‘key areas’ for the 2026/27 campaign, with the implementation of a fan to the board and the implementation of the FAB already well on the way.

Further commitments outlined are:

Strengthening connections with regional, national and international fan groups
Enhancing experiences, including matchday
Grow community outreach and engagement
Culture and customer service
Identifying moments to celebrate and showcase our city, culture and heritage

A statement within the engagement plan document reads in part: “Recent seasons highlight that fan engagement is an ongoing Journey rather than a fixed destination. As the football landscape continues to evolve, we recognise the Importance of continually reviewing and enhancing our approach.

“While wo are proud of the strides made to data, wo acknowledge that vast opportunities for improvement exist. By maintaining open, transparent, and meaningful two-way communication with our supporters, we can continue to strengthen relationships, Improve decision-making, and ensure that fans remain at the heart of the club's future development.

“The club remains fully committed to complying with EFL Regulation 129, ensuring that supporter engagement remains a core part of our operations. Our Fan Engagement Plan sets out the framework through which we engage with supporters, meet our regulatory obligations, and work towards achieving our fan engagement objectives. The plan is publicly available and Is reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant, effective and aligned with the needs of our supporters.”