Senior Manchester United officials met members of The 1958 fan protest group for the first time at Old Trafford this week.
The 80-minute discussion included four members from the group and United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche, as well as director of fan engagement Rick McGagh.
The 1958 group, who had previously been anonymous, helped organise some of the biggest protests against the club’s Glazer family ownership in recent years, with several high-profile protests before games at Old Trafford.
The 1958 group told The Athletic: “This week members of The 1958 met with Collette Roche and Rick McGagh to advise our intention to move into fan representation.
“We discussed our concerns around the current fan engagement process and how this could be improved. Although we didn’t get through all our agenda, we feel it was a positive introduction and a platform to move forward.
“Fan coalition 58 (FC58) will be the fan representation division of The 1958. We will remain fiercely independent. No agenda.”
United have engaged more with supporters in recent years, marking a change from the years following the 2005 Glazer takeover, when the club’s leading executive David Gill cut communication with fans who had protested against the controversial highly leveraged buyout.
The club have had regular contact with The Red Army group which has been largely responsible for helping improve the Old Trafford atmosphere and continue to hold regular meetings with the fans’ advisory board, fans’ forum and the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, MUST.
Joel Glazer also met fans in person for the first time when he attended a fans’ advisory board meeting at Old Trafford last week.
A Manchester United spokesperson confirmed the meeting with the 1958 group, adding: “We believe in the benefits of dialogue between the club and fans and meet with a variety of groups as part of this approach from time to time.
“Our main channels for engagement continue to be via our fans’ advisory board, fans’ forum and the recognised independent supporters’ trust, MUST. These channels give fans a voice at the heart of the club, and we welcome all fans and fan groups who want to engage constructively within that framework.”
United are next in action at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.
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