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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 21:51:54 GMT
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aspo365
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Post by aspo365 on Feb 22, 2023 21:55:08 GMT
Why is Crouchy doing a review? thought he was a pundit now?
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Post by chiprockets on Feb 22, 2023 22:00:34 GMT
Take if you’ve seen it before embargo then?
I wouldn’t take this current government word on much
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:17:55 GMT
Last year I asked the Supporters Council to raise with the Club, whether the Club supports the EFL and Parry on the key point he majors on there, i.e the failure to agree revenue redistribution with the PL, and if so, whether it will lobby the local MPs to that effect. Tracey Crouch asked the PL and EFL to agree a new formula by the end of 2021, but nothing has happened. She proposed that if agreement cannot be reached the regulator should have reserve powers to impose it. The SC did raise it, and, according to the minutes, the Club replied that the failure to reach agreement was probably due to the complexity of the issue. In giving that response, either the Club is more naive than I would ever have suspected, or it was pulling the wool over the eyes of the Council. Of course everyone in football understands the redistribution issue which is very simple. Of course I wasn't at the meeting but the minutes did not record any challenge to that response. The Club said that it communicates its views to the local MPs but according to the minutes didn't tell the Council or the rest of us what their view is. It did say that the Council could contact MPs direct if it wished ( which was very kind of it  ) Along with my Port Vale colleague, Ally Simcock, I met all 4 local MPs ( 3 Stoke, 1 Newcastle) who are all Government MPs, and was pleased to learn that all 4 of them support the Crouch recommendations, and so will presumably be fully behind the relevant legislation being included in the King's speech. The Opposition also support it, so it's highly likely that before the next General Election, we will have the biggest reform of football certainly since the PL arrived in 1992, and arguably long before that. |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:19:32 GMT
Why is Crouchy doing a review? thought he was a pundit now?  Wrong Crouch - Tracey Crouch MP - but I'm sure our Crouchy will agree with it ! |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:21:53 GMT
Take if you’ve seen it before embargo then? I wouldn’t take this current government word on much Yes - as have all the press. It's the way these things work. Only 9 minutes now ! |
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Post by skip on Feb 22, 2023 22:25:44 GMT
Very interesting, thank you Malcolm.
The only bit I don't quite understand (yet) is the quote from Parry: "By making clubs sustainable we mean not dependent on owner funding, which is not the same thing as being against owner funding. We completely understand the idea of ambition and why clubs want to progress but it is reliance on owner funding that causes problems."
I don't know how the above levels the playing field at the sharp end of success, where The Very Big Clubs, including in terms of ownership nowadays include Newcastle*, are spending outrageous amounts of money in an attempt to buy a place in the Champions League. The frankly nefarious goings on at Chelsea with their spending, how would they be viewed? And Man City have pretty much bought the Premier League and assorted domestic trophies. Will they ever see any real comeuppance as a result of this white paper?
Unless the Very Big Clubs have their wings clipped, I worry that this may well prevent 'another Bury' from happening which is a very good thing, but it won't make the Premier League any less rigged in favour of insanely wealthy owned clubs. Spurs have got the best stadium in the world in my opinion and they've still not won anything of note for donkeys years.
*How their owners were deemed fit for purpose is beyond me - a clear cut example of sports washing and an utterly amoral decision by the Premier League.
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:30:16 GMT
Here you go
Press release
Strictly embargoed to 2230 Wednesday 22 February
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
BOLD PLAN TO PROTECT LONG-TERM FUTURE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL
New independent regulator to help prevent repeat of financial failings seen at Derby County, Bury and Macclesfield Town
Strengthened owners’ and directors’ test to protect clubs and their fans from unscrupulous owners
Fans given greater say in running of clubs, and key heritage such as team names, badges and stadia at core of new plans
Powers to block English clubs from joining unpopular breakaway leagues like the European Super League
Plans follow the Government accepting recommendations from the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, led by Tracey Crouch MP
Football fans and their clubs will be given greater protections under a radical transformation of the rules governing how football is run in England, the Government will announce today.
For the first time, a new independent regulator for the men’s elite game will be established in law to oversee the financial sustainability of the game and put fans back at the heart of how football is run.
The regulator will implement a new licensing system from the top flight down to the National League, requiring clubs to demonstrate sound financial business models and good corporate governance as part of an application process before being allowed to compete.
It will guarantee fans a greater say in the strategic running of their clubs and help protect clubs’ heritage to stop owners changing names, badges and home shirt colours without consulting fans. It will require clubs to seek regulator approval for any sale or relocation of the stadium, with fan engagement a major part of that process.
There will be new tests for owners and directors, ensuring good custodians of clubs, stronger due diligence on sources of wealth and a requirement for robust financial planning.
The regulator will have the power to prevent English clubs from joining new competitions that do not meet a predetermined criteria, in consultation with the FA and fans. That criteria could include measures to stop clubs participating in closed-shop breakaway competitions which harm the domestic game, such as the European Super League.
The English game remains one of the UK’s greatest cultural exports, with clubs and leagues around the world modelling themselves on its success. That is why the Government is today taking the necessary and targeted steps to ensure that continues for generations.
The move follows the Government’s 2019 manifesto commitment to deliver a fan-led review of football governance, in light of the failings at historic clubs such as Bury and Macclesfield Town which went out of business as a result of mismanagement. Those clubs are among 64 instances of a club being put into administration since 1992, when the Premier League was launched.
More recently, in 2021, plans for a breakaway European Super League by a select group of Premier League and other European elite clubs were shelved after widespread public condemnation and action from the Government and football authorities.
There continues to be serious financial risk in the leagues. Despite the global success of English football, the combined net debt of clubs in the Premier League and Championship had reached £5.9 billion by the end of the 2020/21 season.
In the same season, the Championship reported a wage-to-revenue ratio average of 125 per cent - meaning clubs were stretching themselves far beyond their means - and in recent months multiple clubs throughout the leagues have failed to meet their payroll. Derby County FC found itself on the brink of liquidation last year, and indications are that things continue to deteriorate across the leagues.
The Government launched a Fan-Led Review Of Football in 2021 and responded to it in April 2022.
Prime Minister RIshi Sunak said:
“Since its inception over 165 years ago, English football has been bringing people together, providing a source of pride for communities and inspiration to millions of fans across the country.
“Yet despite the success of the sport both at home and abroad, we know that there are real challenges which threaten the stability of clubs both big and small.
“These bold new plans will put fans back at the heart of football, protect the rich heritage and traditions of our much-loved clubs and safeguard the beautiful game for future generations”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
“I know how much football means to this country, and I want to see the domestic league continue its incredible success at home and abroad.
“So today we are stepping in to secure the long-term future of the national game and put fans right back at the heart of how football is run.
“Our plans will ensure that clubs manage their finances in a responsible way, and prevent unscrupulous owners from treating clubs as expendable commodities rather than the beloved community assets that they are.
“This is about protecting the beautiful game, making sure we remain home to the strongest league in the world, and safeguarding clubs big and small across the country.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“My first major meeting as Sports Minister was with football fans. I heard how some clubs had suffered at the hands of owners who used and abused their stewardship.
“Without fans, football clubs are nothing. That is why today we are putting fans back at the centre of football governance, and creating a stronger foundation for the continued growth and success of English football.
“This new independent regulator will create an even stronger Premier League, English Football League and National League, so our pyramid of elite football remains the envy of leagues the world over.”
Chair of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance Tracey Crouch MP said:
"This is a big day for football in this country and I am delighted the Government has acted on the key strategic recommendations in my review.
"The introduction of a new independent regulator of football will strengthen our incredible pyramid, giving investors, fans and communities confidence in the governance of our clubs, enabling them to thrive in the best leagues in the world.
"Football is nothing without its fans, and the announcement today will ensure they remain at its heart while it continues to grow at home and abroad."
Chief Executive of the Football Supporters Association Kevin Miles said:
“The Football Supporters Association engaged in the fan-led review from day one and we warmly welcome the historic commitment from the Government to introduce an independent regulator of English football.
“The football governance white paper clearly addresses our key concerns around ownership, rogue competitions and sustainability and of course we support any proposals that offer fans a greater voice in the running of their clubs.”
“We look forward to engaging with the Government on the next steps.”
The Premier League remains the envy of club competitions around the world and the Government remains fully behind its continued success. But in order to secure the financial sustainability of clubs at all levels, a solution led by those running the leagues and their clubs is needed, and remains the Government’s preferred outcome.
However, if the football authorities cannot reach an agreement the regulator would have targeted powers of last resort to intervene and facilitate an agreement as and when necessary.
As part of its wide ranging remit the regulator will also:
Ensure club directors demonstrate good basic financial practices, have appropriate financial resources and protect the core assets of the club;
Improve governance through the introduction of a Football Club Corporate Governance Code;
Remain proportionate and adaptive in its approach with checks and balances embedded in its design;
In parallel with the publication of the white paper, the Government will also review the efficiency of the existing visa system for English football in attracting the best global talent while maintaining strong support for young domestic players to develop from the grassroots level.
The Government will now begin the process of engagement and further consultation with selected stakeholders on the key reforms set out in its white paper. Plans to bring forward legislation will be announced as soon as parliamentary time allows.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Former Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s statement on the fan led review can be found here.
Tracey Crouch’s Fan Led Review of Football governance report can be found here.
The review was based on engagement with supporters’ trusts, fan groups, women’s football representatives, football authorities, club owners, players representatives, and underrepresented interest groups, alongside over 20,000 fans responding to an online survey. The final report, supported by an expert advisory panel from the world of football, was submitted to the Government in November 2021, with 57 recommendations put forward in total, including ten key strategic recommendations.
It concluded that football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game, and found a significant part of the reason for the perilous state of football was due to reckless financial decision-making often being prioritised by unsuitable owners and directors in the pursuit of glory, putting the future of clubs - and their status as community assets - at risk.
The new test for prospective and current owners and directors will complement the current tests administered by the Premier League and English Football League.
The Government’s response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance report can be found here.
In parallel with this white paper, an in-depth review into the future of domestic women’s football is well underway.
Led by former England and Great Britain footballer Karen Carney MBE, the review is looking at how to deliver bold and sustainable growth of the women’s game at elite and grassroots level. This is with a particular focus on assessing the potential audience reach and growth of the game, examining the financial health of the game, and examining the structures within women’s football. A full report will be published later this year.
The Government is continuing to consider the safety and economic case for piloting the sale and consumption of alcohol in sight of the pitch at matches in the men’s lower leagues, as per the recommendation within the fan-led review of football governance. It will continue to consult stakeholders on a way forward, including Safety Advisory Groups and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.
Further details on the Home Office’s review of the existing visa system will be set out in due course.
Additional quotes as below:
David Clowes, owner of Derby County FC, said:
“As a club, Derby County stared extinction in the face for far too long. We believe it is essential our supporters – and every other football fan – are given the strongest possible voice and backing if that helps ensure no other club is threatened in the same way. Since exiting administration, we have been working with a wide range of supporter stakeholders to bring in exactly the kind of measures outlined in this white paper, and we will continue to strive to implement them as quickly as possible.”
Gary Sweet, Chief Executive at Luton Town Football Club, said:
“As the Club that has experienced the greatest spread of positions in the pyramid over the last decade, we fully understand the importance of preserving the values of our beautiful game and care passionately about the protection of its heritage.
“As is being rightly implemented in other important sectors of our society, football also needs a levelling up initiative to ensure our national game remains intact. Football has had ample time to repair itself without success, which is why the publication of the white paper is welcomed by everyone here at Kenilworth Road.
“We look forward to an independent regulator to provide all clubs with the fairest opportunity to compete through sporting endeavour whilst operating sustainably, with the inclusion of supporters and influence on their communities.”
Andrew Parkinson, Chief Executive at Plymouth Argyle Football Club, said:
"As a transparent and values-led club that seeks to be financially and environmentally sustainable, we welcome the Fan Led Review and look forward to playing our role in the evolution of a more equitable game.
"Fans are at the centre of what we do, and that was never more apparent than the period of time in which fixtures were played behind closed doors. The publication of the white paper and subsequent discussions provide an opportunity to make important progress on key issues such as regulation and, critically, the distribution of revenues - focused on ensuring that the football pyramid at all levels can thrive."
Mark Palios, Chairman of Tranmere Rovers Football Club and former Chief Executive of The Football Association, said:
"The white paper is a welcome response to Tracy Crouch’s excellent Fan Led Review. Full credit to the Government for setting in motion what could prove to be the first steps in protecting the unique football pyramid in this country.
"The next step is to define the broad strategic priorities of the Independent Regulator and ensure that the role has the requisite powers to ensure implementation over the longer term."
A Notts County Football Club spokesperson said:
"Notts County, the world’s oldest professional club, fully supports any action to safeguard the future of clubs and the structure of the globally-revered English football pyramid.
"As we have seen with the tragic demise of Bury FC among others, and particularly following the challenges posed by Covid-19, many clubs are in a vulnerable position and in need of support and guidance.
"Fans, who are the lifeblood of the game, also deserve to know that their interests are being prioritised and that attempts are being made to prevent them from ever having to go through the turmoil of losing their club or its identity."
--
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Post by skip on Feb 22, 2023 22:33:05 GMT
Is there time to stick on "Twenty is Plenty" for away fans tickets please!
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Post by lordb on Feb 22, 2023 22:35:09 GMT
Interesting re the licence
Has to be teeth for the new regulator
Lots to do, 40 years later than it should have been but it's a start
Very interested in the Coates stance on this
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Feb 22, 2023 22:39:19 GMT
What would this mean in practice for the likes of Stoke Malcolm?
Would it mean our rich owners would be able to spend some of their cash under the supervision of the new regulator?
Or don't we know yet?
Is that devilish detail yet to be revealed?
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:45:32 GMT
Very interesting, thank you Malcolm. The only bit I don't quite understand (yet) is the quote from Parry: "By making clubs sustainable we mean not dependent on owner funding, which is not the same thing as being against owner funding. We completely understand the idea of ambition and why clubs want to progress but it is reliance on owner funding that causes problems." I don't know how the above levels the playing field at the sharp end of success, where The Very Big Clubs, including in terms of ownership nowadays include Newcastle*, are spending outrageous amounts of money in an attempt to buy a place in the Champions League. The frankly nefarious goings on at Chelsea with their spending, how would they be viewed? And Man City have pretty much bought the Premier League and assorted domestic trophies. Will they ever see any real comeuppance as a result of this white paper? Unless the Very Big Clubs have their wings clipped, I worry that this may well prevent 'another Bury' from happening which is a very good thing, but it won't make the Premier League any less rigged in favour of insanely wealthy owned clubs. Spurs have got the best stadium in the world in my opinion and they've still not won anything of note for donkeys years. *How their owners were deemed fit for purpose is beyond me - a clear cut example of sports washing and an utterly amoral decision by the Premier League. I agree that it's not crystal clear exactly what Rick Parry means there, and of course that's his view, not Tracey Crouch's as such. I think there are two separate issues here. The first is at Club level, and the danger of Clubs being heavily in debt to their owners and others. Or as Parry put, owner funding is fine until it stops. Crouch's 2nd of 10 strategic recommendations is To ensure financial sustainability of the professional game, IREF (the regulator) should oversee financial regulation in football . The report goes into more detail about that. The second is at competition level. It is striking that when the PL was formed 30 years ago, the EFL had 75% of its revenue. Now it has about 6%. Crouch's 8th strategic recommendation says ........The Premier League should guarantee its support to the pyramid and make additional, proportionate contributions to further support football I love Parry's phrase that "tramboline payments" would be a better term than "parachute payments" . The scale of the competitive advantage given to the relegated clubs is astonishing, absurd and outrageous. We didn't take advantage of course, but that a whole other story ......................  |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:48:29 GMT
Is there time to stick on "Twenty is Plenty" for away fans tickets please! Plenty of time, Skip. Away prices in the Championship are becoming an issue of increasing concern |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 22:58:09 GMT
What would this mean in practice for the likes of Stoke Malcolm? Would it mean our rich owners would be able to spend some of their cash under the supervision of the new regulator? Or don't we know yet? Is that devilish detail yet to be revealed? Basically, it will be down to the regulator, who will be charged with maintaining competitive integrity and financial sustainability at Club level. Debt has obviously been a major problem in the game. The other significant issues is the role of a Club's fans. Crouch's 6th strategic recommendation is As a uniquely important stakeholder, supporters should be properly consulted by their clubs in taking key decisions by means of a Shadow Board |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 23:02:20 GMT
I gather it's not actually going to be the PM himself ( although he is quoted in that press release). It will be laid before Parliament by the Minister of Sport, and then there is a public launch at AFC Wimbledon by the Secretary of State and the Minister of Sport at which our (FSA) Chief Executive, Kevin Miles will be involved. |
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Post by dirtclod on Feb 22, 2023 23:14:59 GMT
Appreciate this Malcolm - interesting.
Looks like they're keying on debt-levels - the true measure of how healthy a club is.
Redistribution is key. Ridiculous how the PL been starving the tiers below them so they can pay 200 million for players. (which inflates player-costs for everyone else)
I think this is a great step to spur incremental & steady improvement.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Feb 22, 2023 23:19:23 GMT
What would this mean in practice for the likes of Stoke Malcolm? Would it mean our rich owners would be able to spend some of their cash under the supervision of the new regulator? Or don't we know yet? Is that devilish detail yet to be revealed? Basically, it will be down to the regulator, who will be charged with maintaining competitive integrity and financial sustainability at Club level. Debt has obviously been a major problem in the game. The other significant issues is the role of a Club's fans. Crouch's 6th strategic recommendation is As a uniquely important stakeholder, supporters should be properly consulted by their clubs in taking key decisions by means of a Shadow Board Thanks Malcolm. |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 22, 2023 23:21:42 GMT
Off to bed now. First radio interview is at 7am tomorrow , so can't answer any more tonight. Thanks for the comments and contributions. |
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Post by flea79 on Feb 22, 2023 23:50:22 GMT
The idea of any government running our game fills me with dread!
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Feb 23, 2023 0:01:23 GMT
The idea of any government running our game fills me with dread! What don’t you understand about ‘NEW INDEPENDENT REGULATOR’? |
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Post by nottsover60 on Feb 23, 2023 0:50:05 GMT
Thank you for that. We are lucky to have a fan like you to explain it to us. It would take me ages to wade through that and understand what it means for clubs.
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Post by trincostokie on Feb 23, 2023 1:13:20 GMT
Thanks for all your hard work with this, Malcolm, from footie fans everywhere...
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Post by PotterLog on Feb 23, 2023 1:40:45 GMT
Thank you for that. We are lucky to have a fan like you to explain it to us. It would take me ages to wade through that and understand what it means for clubs. Echoed. Thanks so much for taking the time to post it and answer questions on here MC. |
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Post by cvillestokie on Feb 23, 2023 3:01:58 GMT
I do appreciate everything that you try to do Malcolm. However, I would be shocked if in 10 years time there is a smaller gap between the Premier League and the Championship than there is now (and so on for Championship to League One etc).
It will be interesting to see how good any “independent” regulator will ultimately turn out to be in safeguarding clubs.
With regards to increased distribution of finance from the PL down. How does that work? It’s my understanding (perhaps wrongly) that a fair chunk of money comes from tv deals. If next to no one wants to watch Stoke vs Barnsley on a Friday night, should the internationally well-received match of Man Utd vs Liverpool be used to help supplement the general lack of interest in the lower leagues? I have quite conflicting views on this. On one hand, the PL teams ruin lower leagues by offering far more money than others can afford, on the other hand no one outside of the club supporters care about teams in lower leagues.
Has anyone considered petitioning for stricter rules on poaching from academies, the number of loans (across all ages) a club can send out and reducing squad size? Players would surely command less money in this division (thus reducing costs) if they weren’t used to bloated PL salaries despite never featuring.
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Post by flea79 on Feb 23, 2023 7:17:08 GMT
The idea of any government running our game fills me with dread! What don’t you understand about ‘NEW INDEPENDENT REGULATOR’? Problem is the government appoint these regulators!!! |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 23, 2023 7:29:26 GMT
Thanks for all your hard work with this, Malcolm, from footie fans everywhere... Thanks, but not just, or even mainly, me. Our CEO, Kevin Miles, sat on Tracey Crouch's panel. He leads an excellent staff team, and we have some brilliant volunteers from clubs all over the country, who gave Tracey Crouch some excellent evidence. This is the FSA's original evidence thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FSA-FLR-Evidence-Submission-v3-DIGITAL.pdf |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Feb 23, 2023 7:34:54 GMT
The idea of any government running our game fills me with dread! It would me too, flea, and if it ever happened ( which it won't) it would be against FIFA statutes. The Regulator will be independent of Government. As matter of interest, who do you think runs our game at the moment, and are you satisfied with the way it's run ? If not, how would you reform it, if not through an independent regulator ? |
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Post by telfordstoke on Feb 23, 2023 7:50:14 GMT
Will look out for you in the media today Malcolm and thanks for sharing info and eloquent explanation of points therein .
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Post by Gods on Feb 23, 2023 7:52:33 GMT
Really stupid question but all the communications refer to 'fan this' and 'fan that' but what is a 'fan' these days?
Is it someone who attends football matches (a small number of people) or someone who watches football through some other directly or indirectly paid means (an infinitely larger audience) ?
I think most people would assume the first audience but football commerce is laser focused on the second global audience for obvious reasons.
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Post by flea79 on Feb 23, 2023 7:55:28 GMT
The idea of any government running our game fills me with dread! It would me too, flea, and if it ever happened ( which it won't) it would be against FIFA statutes. The Regulator will be independent of Government. As matter of interest, who do you think runs our game at the moment, and are you satisfied with the way it's run ? If not, how would you reform it, if not through an independent regulator ? It’s a very expansive question really I do like the idea of the German model of club ownership but am unsure how it really works behind the scenes and as RB Leipzig have shown it’s got flaws, I also wouldn’t want to see clubs stymied and progress hampered by rules introduced in the future And who will appoint this regulator? The civil service under direction of mp’s who will lobby for a pal to be the backer usually seems to be the way…. |
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Wrong Crouch - Tracey Crouch MP - but I'm sure our Crouchy will agree with it ! 
