Everton took a crucial first step to what will no doubt be an important part of their structure in the future as the first meeting of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) took place on last week.
This is something that the Blues have quite rightly championed over the course of recent months as they have prioritised fans having their say on the biggest issues that the club will face. Those who support the side every single week are the lifeblood of this club, and that's something that has long been realised in the corridors of Finch Farm, the Royal Liver Buildings and Goodison Park.
Everton are leading the way across the Premier League in this sense, with the club forming their own response very quickly to a Government review on the governance of football. This board will be consulted on matters including strategic vision, broader supporter engagement, the relocation to a new stadium, finance and revenue generation, and any proposals regarding the club's heritage.
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There's a lot to take in, but the main line is that this is surely a crucial step in the club's history. Everyone realises that collaboration and constant communication lie at the heart of future success, and it's good to see Everton taking such decisive action as they did in aiding the formation of this fan group.
This first meeting of the FAB was always going to be a very initial phase, but insiders from it noted the upbeat atmosphere that was present. There's a lot of excitement surrounding getting down to important work with the club.
Chaired by the Everton Stakeholder Steering Group (ESSG) before it handed over ownership and dissolved, the gathering was well-attended by members of the club's hierarchy as well as the elected members of the new organisation. Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Graeme Sharp both represented the board of directors, and it's expected that will continue in future meetings too.
The club's CEO has a requirement to attend at least two of the quarterly meetings each year, while the legendary former striker is expected to attend all of the future gatherings as part of his non-executive director role within the club.
It's understood that the chief executive began last week's meeting by highlighting the importance of the group, thanking everyone for being part of a crucial step for the club and also giving huge praise to the ESSG for their role in getting to this point.
Representatives from the Blues will convene with the FAB at least once every quarter, with the possibility of that being brought forward in "extraordinary" circumstances, which will be determined as a collective. However, it won't just be in meetings that the advisory board can have their say - with an open line of communication with the club continuing throughout.
And, of course, that will filter down to fans who aren't direct members of the advisory board. Processes are already in place for the FAB to create their own website, where they will advertise upcoming meetings and share the details of everything discussed in their future gatherings - as those members involved in the group will meet every month on an initial basis at least.
A full engagement strategy is in the works to make sure supporters can voice their opinions, share their concerns and have their say on many factors going forward. At the heart of all this will lie a distinct need for communication, and it will be very interesting to see how everyone involved builds on what is a strong start for the very initial phase of the FAB coming into fruition.
Over the course of coming weeks, four members of the advisory board will be in attendance in Baltimore as Everton begin their pre-season tour of the United States - with two members also travelling to Minneapolis. Their presence should allow any supporters joining them for those matches, and surrounding events, to share more important voices as things start to take shape.
What's important to note is that these are still the first steps of what will be a long, collaborative process. The initial administration is still being ironed out, strategies are still being put into motion.
However, this should still be seen as an exciting moment. Make no mistake, these are the signs of communication at an important level - involving a varied selection of Blues fans elected into their positions or democratically nominated by supporter groups.
Of course, time will tell regarding what important input will be made in strategic decisions - but it's telling that the Premier League endorsed the introduction of Fan Advisory Boards across the division last month. Everton are ahead of the curve, and they could make that count in the future.
Last week's meeting was an initial, maybe tentative, first step into the unknown. But, the signs are there that this can be a hugely positive move for the club as a whole.
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