Fans led review of Football -approved by Government

[Barry.C]

Today the Sports minister has announced that all the recommendations in the Fans led review of football will be introduced,

In other words a bill will be included in the new Queens speech for the next parliamentary session. The Premier league are not happy

For info in Summary here are the recommendations....

The legislation will be introduced in 2023

1. SHADOW Boards OF CLUB SUPPOORTERS TO ENSURE MORE SAY. Clubs should " engage and consult on all material non football/off pitch business and financial matters

2, TRUSTS to get Golden Share in club to provide a veto on a number of key decisions, relating to sale of club, heritage issues, club badge and colours, relocation outside area, leaving or joining anew competition, club name

3. A pledge to guarantee stronger mechanisms to ensure equality and diversity in Boardrooms

4, An Independent Regulator to oversee Governance to ensure financial stability in the English game,
including oversight of club finances, information gathering, investigation and enforcement powers

5, Independent Regulator to have a chair and Board with expertise across a range of Industries, appointed by a panel of experts separate to the Government

6. Independent Regulator to operate a system of Advocacy to help clubs comply with the rules

7. A new test of club owners suitability to run the club, managed by the Independent Regulator, when an individual buys a club and thereafter, includes an INTEGRITY TEST and could extend to investigating business links, Expected to include current owners. Plus a test for Directors and Shadow directors

8. Independent Regulator to publish an Annual report setting out their operational and financial performance

9 . Greater due diligence on Owners money at point of buying a club

10. Redistribution of wealth across the English pyramid is expected to be
reconsidered but by Clubs themselves to consider, Current formula for distribution of wealth to be scrapped, A new compulsory clause to adjust players salaries

11. . Each club in the National league and above will be required to hold a licence to operate subject to certain conditions. Licence fees to be based on a sliding scale of broadcast revenue

12. The Government to explore ways to support the regulation of football agents

13. In addition to not being subject to any disqualification criteria based on existing rules, prospective new owners should also be required to:

a. submit a business plan for assessment by IREF (to include financial forecasts).

b. evidence sufficient financial resources to meet the requirements of the business plan.

c. be subject to enhanced due diligence checks on source of funds to be developed with the Home Office and National Crime Agency.

d. pass an integrity test.
13.

 

[Fairport]

Interesting, an integrity test for current owners? Ron would probably wriggle his way round that unfortunately. The whole set of proposals are encouraging though.

 

[Whispering Bob]

13c could prove a stumbling block.

 

[Mick]

13c could prove a stumbling block.

A bigger stumbling block is that a Government with Naddine Dorries as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport could struggle to get this over the line ......... or even find the line.

 

[Tinks]

13c could prove a stumbling block.

I think 13 d would be more appropriate

 

[Smiffy]

Does an integrity test include current owners, or just potential new owners?

Needs to be both IMO, especially in our current position and perhaps the one in the not too distant future.

Suspect Oldham fans share the same view.

Be interesting to see if this pre-empts a big change in the boardroom at a number of clubs, including ours. Which would be very welcomed by most of us I think.

 

[sufc4life21]

Interesting, an integrity test for current owners? Ron would probably wriggle his way round that unfortunately. The whole set of proposals are encouraging though.

He wouldn't have much of leg to stand on if he convicted of fraud.

 

[Barry.C]

Does an integrity test include current owners, or just potential new owners?

Needs to be both IMO, especially in our current position and perhaps the one in the not too distant future.

Suspect Oldham fans share the same view.

Be interesting to see if this pre-empts a big change in the boardroom at a number of clubs, including ours. Which would be very welcomed by most of us I think.

Totally agree, From what I read it seems to "expect " the Integrity Test should apply to current Owners and Directors. However a long way to go and no doubt more legal wrangles a possibility before the final law enacted ?

 

[The Big Dady]

Nice idea, but they will need a team of legal and financial investigators for each team to police/control all that.

 

[Barry.C]

Nice idea, but they will need a team of legal and financial investigators for each team to police/control all that.

Im sure you are right. The new Independent Regulators Board for starters will have to have quite a lot of eager legal beavers to hand as well as other expertise

 

[defender05]

A complete waste of time, most of the above are part of the FA's current regime and look how well they do at them.

As for a golden share for trusts we can't even agree who should be at a meeting so how will any big decisions be made.

 

[IloveShrimp]

Lawyers will be rubbing their hands together in glee at the thought of how much money will be heading their way in fees

 

[Barry.C]

A complete waste of time, most of the above are part of the FA's current regime and look how well they do at them.

As for a golden share for trusts we can't even agree who should be at a meeting so how will any big decisions be made.

Try to reign in the optimism !?

The majority of the recommendations are very common to most businesses but not the FA, Prem league or EFL. That is why they have been so strongly opposed to the reforms and have attempted to delay as far as possible,

An Independent Regulator is key and is not part of the current set ups agenda. Legal comment actually suggests that barely any of the recommendatioins are, Hence the need to act and take stronger action. I agree given the opportunity the FA have however done practically FA

 

[Barling Magna]

I don't like the idea of scrapping the current formula for wealth distribution with no more favourable formula in its place. "Up to the clubs to consider ..." - we know what that means.

 

[Barry.C]

: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commo...2A0-476A-B45F-0443CF28AE27/FootballGovernance

For info the Government Ministers statement on this

 

[Barry.C]

I don't like the idea of scrapping the current formula for wealth distribution with no more favourable formula in its place. "Up to the clubs to consider ..." - we know what that means.

I appreciate your concern here, but I think as a replacement to the current formula there is a determination to ensure a bigger and better distribution of funds to lower down the pyramid, I think there would be something of an outcry if this didnt happen and the Independent Regulator retains the power to step in if it doesnt

 

[Userorange]

A complete waste of time, most of the above are part of the FA's current regime and look how well they do at them.

As for a golden share for trusts we can't even agree who should be at a meeting so how will any big decisions be made.

Of course it’s a waste of time. But it makes our leaders popular when they demonstrate at - little or no political risk to themselves. - how much they care about the common people’s concerns over the way their football clubs are run.

 

[harveyoe]

Of course it’s a waste of time. But it makes our leaders popular when they demonstrate at - little or no political risk to themselves. - how much they care about the common people’s concerns over the way their football clubs are run.

We need to consider what has happened in other industries which have regulators. Have these regulators solved the problem which was causing the need for regulation?

 

[Userorange]

We need to consider what has happened in other industries which have regulators. Have these regulators solved the problem which was causing the need for regulation?

Ah, great point. You mean like energy cost regulation...

 

[harveyoe]

Ah, great point. You mean like energy cost regulation...

Yes, that sort of thing.