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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 9, 2020 12:05:18 GMT
At 4.30 today MPs will be debating the petition signed by I think about 200k fans about the discrimination against football in the rules, pre-current lockdown, which prevented fans returning to grounds, whilst allowing games to watched indoors in cinemas, and even in the ground itself in hospitality areas if a meal was being served. There was a thread on here about it, and no doubt many stokies signed. Here is the Daily Mail's take on it. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8923839/No-double-standards-Football-fans-plead-level-playing-field-lockdown-lifted.htmlThen tomorrow, looking at the longer term future of the game, in a hearing which starts at 9am the CMS Select Committee will be hearing evidence from Greg Clarke, FA Chair, and Rick Parry, EFL Chair, which will no doubt cover football governance, regulation and reform, project big picture and all that stuff. I haven't yet checked but you can probably watch the live streams on the Parliament site and maybe the Parliamentary TV Channel |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 9, 2020 12:51:16 GMT
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Post by heworksardtho on Nov 9, 2020 16:10:40 GMT
Be no footy crowds until a vaccine is found and rightly so
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Post by Scouse on Nov 9, 2020 16:18:35 GMT
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Post by Scouse on Nov 9, 2020 16:44:35 GMT
Started now
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 9, 2020 19:40:15 GMT
Thanks for posting the links, Scouse. Unfortunately, due to a technical glich the broadcast didn't start until after Jonathan Gullis' opening speech but we got the rest of the debate. The MPs did quite a good job of making the case, and I was more impressed with Gullis' passionate summing up than I was with the Minister. Gullis seems to 'get' football. |
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Post by Scouse on Nov 9, 2020 19:50:33 GMT
Agree thought Gullis’ summing up was good , the best part
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 10, 2020 12:53:22 GMT
Just finished watching this morning's sessions. Some pretty tough questioning from the MPs on the slowness of sorting out financial packages for leagues 1 and 2 and the infamous Project Big Picture. For those interested in the survival of clubs post-COVID, the distribution of wealth in ootball, football governance and the need for fundamental change, and who have the time ( it was about two and a half hours in total !) it might be worth watching the recording which I think will be available on the Parliament site. Stoke City got a mention as an example of a Championship Club with "rich" owners which is, allegedly, therefore in a better position than some others. Extraordinarily, the Committee Chair said that they will be writing on a weekly basis to the authorities, asking them what meetings have been held to sort all this out and what the outcome was. I've never heard of a Parliamentary Select Committee doing anything like that before.
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 10, 2020 16:27:49 GMT
One of the MPs used the "sugar coated cyanide pill" phrase about Project Big Picture, invented on this Board by partickpotter  , and adopted by the FSA. Can't pay royalties, I'm afraid |
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Post by leicspotter on Nov 10, 2020 18:55:19 GMT
Malcolm, will Greg Clarke resigning help or hinder the process do you think?
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 10, 2020 21:03:06 GMT
Malcolm, will Greg Clarke resigning help or hinder the process do you think? Well, who knows. A lot obviously depends on who gets the job and I've absolutely no idea who that might be - neither I suspect does anyone else at this stage because this was something no-one saw coming. We could definitely do worse than Clarke has been. He is certainly not the worst of the 5 Chairman since I have been on the FA Council. But leaving aside his inappropriate language at today's Committee, I don't think the performance of him, Richard Masters, CEO of the PL, and Rick Parry, did anything to convince the politicians that football is capable of reforming itself, which will add to the argument for the Government's fan-led review to start sooner rather than later. |
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Post by stokefc on Nov 10, 2020 21:09:57 GMT
Malcolm, will Greg Clarke resigning help or hinder the process do you think? Well, who knows. A lot obviously depends on who gets the job and I've absolutely no idea who that might be - neither I suspect does anyone else at this stage because this was something no-one saw coming. We could definitely do worse than Clarke has been. He is certainly not the worst of the 5 Chairman since I have been on the FA Council. But leaving aside his inappropriate language at today's Committee, I don't think the performance of him, Richard Masters, CEO of the PL, and Rick Parry, did anything to convince the politicians that football is capable of reforming itself, which will add to the argument for the Government's fan-led review to start sooner rather than later. Interesting |
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Post by leicspotter on Nov 13, 2020 19:34:49 GMT
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Post by lordb on Nov 13, 2020 19:35:49 GMT
I bet Dowden is dreading it |
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Post by leicspotter on Nov 13, 2020 19:38:06 GMT
The potential return of fans to grounds in England, the reform of governance and finances, equality and diversity, and the women's game will be discussed.
A group of leaders and stakeholders from across the sport have been invited to participate.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden will lead the talks.
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Post by stokeuk474 on Nov 13, 2020 19:52:42 GMT
I'm still optimistic that we might see some small crowds in before the end of this season.
We've shown that in Spring/summer it's easier to control the infection rate, and hopefully the vaccines will also help to bring that down.
I do think we would've had the reduced crowds we expected in October if we hadn't had the increase in cases we have.
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Post by leicspotter on Nov 16, 2020 19:31:34 GMT
Malcolm, will Greg Clarke resigning help or hinder the process do you think? Well, who knows. A lot obviously depends on who gets the job and I've absolutely no idea who that might be - neither I suspect does anyone else at this stage because this was something no-one saw coming. We could definitely do worse than Clarke has been. He is certainly not the worst of the 5 Chairman since I have been on the FA Council. But leaving aside his inappropriate language at today's Committee, I don't think the performance of him, Richard Masters, CEO of the PL, and Rick Parry, did anything to convince the politicians that football is capable of reforming itself, which will add to the argument for the Government's fan-led review to start sooner rather than later. Malcolm, do you have any more info on the proposed "virtual Summit" led by Oliver Dowden? Have you got your invite? |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 16, 2020 23:17:22 GMT
Well, who knows. A lot obviously depends on who gets the job and I've absolutely no idea who that might be - neither I suspect does anyone else at this stage because this was something no-one saw coming. We could definitely do worse than Clarke has been. He is certainly not the worst of the 5 Chairman since I have been on the FA Council. But leaving aside his inappropriate language at today's Committee, I don't think the performance of him, Richard Masters, CEO of the PL, and Rick Parry, did anything to convince the politicians that football is capable of reforming itself, which will add to the argument for the Government's fan-led review to start sooner rather than later. Malcolm, do you have any more info on the proposed "virtual Summit" led by Oliver Dowden? Have you got your invite? Yes we have. Kevin Miles, our CEO will be there tomorrow. It is difficult to know exactly what's going on politically. Experience has shown that simply getting all parties round a table is unlikely to achieve any firm outcomes, because there won't of course be agreement. I go right back to David Mellor's Task Force which had everyone on it but produced two reports, because it couldn't agree on a single set of recommendations. The agenda tomorrow is very long, unlike the time allowed to discuss it. We will be pressing strongly for the fan-led review to start, want to know its terms of reference and how it's structured. The PL and the EFL are now setting up their own review and will no doubt attempt to persuade Government that because of that there is no now need for Gvt to do anything. Dowden is talking about this new process taking place 'over the coming months'. If it is a replacement for the fan-led review we will have a lot to say, as no doubt will David Bernstein's new group. We know that 'sorting out football' with the review was being driven by No.10 rather than DCMS, and who knows what effect, if any, the recent coup there will have had. Interesting times ! |
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Post by PotterLog on Nov 17, 2020 3:42:43 GMT
One of the MPs used the "sugar coated cyanide pill" phrase about Project Big Picture, invented on this Board by partickpotter , and adopted by the FSA. Can't pay royalties, I'm afraid Late to the show on this but this is brilliant.  Got to be the first time a phrase coined on the Oatie has made its way into Westminster. Bravo partickpotter |
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Post by partickpotter on Nov 17, 2020 5:44:09 GMT
Malcolm, do you have any more info on the proposed "virtual Summit" led by Oliver Dowden? Have you got your invite? Yes we have. Kevin Miles, our CEO will be there tomorrow. It is difficult to know exactly what's going on politically. Experience has shown that simply getting all parties round a table is unlikely to achieve any firm outcomes, because there won't of course be agreement. I go right back to David Mellor's Task Force which had everyone on it but produced two reports, because it couldn't agree on a single set of recommendations. The agenda tomorrow is very long, unlike the time allowed to discuss it. We will be pressing strongly for the fan-led review to start, want to know its terms of reference and how it's structured. The PL and the EFL are now setting up their own review and will no doubt attempt to persuade Government that because of that there is no now need for Gvt to do anything. Dowden is talking about this new process taking place 'over the coming months'. If it is a replacement for the fan-led review we will have a lot to say, as no doubt will David Bernstein's new group. We know that 'sorting out football' with the review was being driven by No.10 rather than DCMS, and who knows what effect, if any, the recent coup there will have had. Interesting times ! Got to admire your stoicism Malcolm. I lack the patience to cope with these types of shenanigans. Good luck and thank you for sticking with it. |
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Post by sportsman on Nov 17, 2020 6:33:09 GMT
I still find it absolutely mental that people are even suggesting fans back into grounds in the middle of a pandemic.
Just stop a minute and think how stupid that sounds.
The nonsense about social distancing inside grounds is mental to, unless they are talking about around 5 people per stand!
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Post by Gods on Nov 17, 2020 7:45:55 GMT
I still find it absolutely mental that people are even suggesting fans back into grounds in the middle of a pandemic. Just stop a minute and think how stupid that sounds. The nonsense about social distancing inside grounds is mental to, unless they are talking about around 5 people per stand! Don't go on the coronavirus thread then, half the people on there think the virus is at best over stated and at worst an Orwellian hoax. |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 17, 2020 8:02:52 GMT
One of the MPs used the "sugar coated cyanide pill" phrase about Project Big Picture, invented on this Board by partickpotter , and adopted by the FSA. Can't pay royalties, I'm afraid Late to the show on this but this is brilliant. Got to be the first time a phrase coined on the Oatie has made its way into Westminster. Bravo partickpotterIt's become part of the lexicon. It has been used by quite a few football journos. and more than once by politicians. I used it in the FA Council debate, attributing it to a "fellow Stoke fan" , and Kevin, our CEO, uses it often ( most recently in our EFL network meeting of fans just last night) usually remembering to acknowledge its source. Our press officer used it on our site thefsa.org.uk/news/project-big-picture-a-sugar-coated-cyanide-pill/I think this is because it sums it up perfectly in a simple image. Tempt them with the sugar - but it's the long term effect of what lies below and after it which matters. Thank you, Partick |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 17, 2020 8:24:20 GMT
Yes we have. Kevin Miles, our CEO will be there tomorrow. It is difficult to know exactly what's going on politically. Experience has shown that simply getting all parties round a table is unlikely to achieve any firm outcomes, because there won't of course be agreement. I go right back to David Mellor's Task Force which had everyone on it but produced two reports, because it couldn't agree on a single set of recommendations. The agenda tomorrow is very long, unlike the time allowed to discuss it. We will be pressing strongly for the fan-led review to start, want to know its terms of reference and how it's structured. The PL and the EFL are now setting up their own review and will no doubt attempt to persuade Government that because of that there is no now need for Gvt to do anything. Dowden is talking about this new process taking place 'over the coming months'. If it is a replacement for the fan-led review we will have a lot to say, as no doubt will David Bernstein's new group. We know that 'sorting out football' with the review was being driven by No.10 rather than DCMS, and who knows what effect, if any, the recent coup there will have had. Interesting times ! Got to admire your stoicism Malcolm. I lack the patience to cope with these types of shenanigans. Good luck and thank you for sticking with it. Thank you ( although we'll have to be careful this doesn't become a mutual admiration society - see my post above ). Maybe it's like the old joke about asking someone why they are banging their head against a brick wall, to which the answer is that it will be so nice when I stop . I do get inspired by the fellow fans involved. We have an excellent staff team at the FSA, all of whom in my view have a skill set which would enable them to earn far more in other environments ( and in some cases did which they gave up to come to work for us). And the same goes for our representatives at the various clubs, who put the interests of football fans as a whole above their own clubs interests ( for example, it was brilliant the way the fans organisations at all the 'big six' clubs very quickly moved to issue a joint statement condemning Project Big Picture). To give one example nearer to home. A regular poster on here (can't give a name without his permission) who has very relevant professional experience recently contacted me by a PM to offer help and has made a very valuable contribution to our discussions on football governance and regulation. You see this big style whenever you a get a club in crisis - lawyers, financial experts, PR professionals, professional fundraisers etc etc from the fan base always step forward. |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 17, 2020 8:52:45 GMT
I still find it absolutely mental that people are even suggesting fans back into grounds in the middle of a pandemic. Just stop a minute and think how stupid that sounds. The nonsense about social distancing inside grounds is mental to, unless they are talking about around 5 people per stand! I don't think that's quite fair. The Sports Ground Safety Authority, the appropriate government regulator, did a great deal of work on how it could be done, with of course greatly reduced capacities. It runs to 91 pages sgsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SG02-Planning-for-Social-Distancing-at-Sports-Grounds.pdfSafety Officers at clubs all round the country including Stoke City worked on local implementation plans in conjunction with their Local Authorities. What annoyed and mystified many of us was that you could still watch football inside in cinemas and pubs, restaurants etc. Thus West Ham fans could not go to the stadium to watch the hammers but could watch the game in the enclosed indoor cinema in the nearby shopping mall. Even more bizarre at Bristol City and Hull, and may be other grounds, fans actually went into the ground into the corporate areas to watch the game indoors on TV whilst enjoying a meal, but with the curtains drawn so they could not see the pitch  ( that must have been a strange experience - I would find that far too frustrating to do). There is now another body called STIG ( Sports Technology Innovation Group)which is looking at related issues such as testing etc. to try to take this agenda forward. Public health must of course always be the top priority, but there has been a feeling that football has not been treated in the same way as other venues and events. |
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Post by flea79 on Nov 17, 2020 9:06:48 GMT
i think its grossly unfair that up to 6 or 700 people at a time will be able to go and watch widow pissing twankey at the regent this christmas yet football fans cant go to open air stadiums and enjoy a game, once again fans are shit on
Malcolm you have the most thankless task dealing with the powers that be in this country
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Post by leicspotter on Nov 20, 2020 12:01:32 GMT
The Premier League is very close to agreeing a bailout deal with English Football League clubs, says Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. EFL clubs have "agreed in principle" a £50m rescue package for clubs in League One and Two, having initially rejected the offer in October. Dowden told BBC Sport he hopes clubs can get a new deal over the line by next week. He added that a suggested £250m package "would be a good place to get to". "Ultimately it will be a decision between the EFL and the Premier League," he said. "Of course we are engaging closely with them. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55008860 |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 12:41:20 GMT
Hopefully good news regarding a vaccine is on the way , but the government have to find a way around the never ending problem of coronavirus , because it's not going to go away .
In the same way , they have to find a way round the problem of influenza , that is never going to go away .
The problem of fatalities from car accidents , that is never going to go away
Etc etc etc
We get on with our lives with so many problems , that will never go away , and coronavirus is another one of those problems.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 12:56:01 GMT
Hopefully good news regarding a vaccine is on the way , but the government have to find a way around the never ending problem of coronavirus , because it's not going to go away . In the same way , they have to find a way round the problem of influenza , that is never going to go away . The problem of fatalities from car accidents , that is never going to go away Etc etc etc We get on with our lives with so many problems , that will never go away , and coronavirus is another one of those problems. If the vaccine proves to be as effective as thought, and everyone actually took it then actually it probably would go away. The anti-fax muppets are going to make that pretty unlikely though  |
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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Nov 24, 2020 12:48:30 GMT
There is ( yet another) debate on football governance in Parliament tomorrow calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/Commons/All/2020/11/25/Daily2.30 - 4pm Westminster Hall debate, led by Clive Efford MP (Millwall fan who 'gets it' on football - mentioned in the paperback version of "Marvellous" - but that's another story ! ). The Minister will have to respond. We have briefed the all-party group of football supporters on what we think should be said. It may be on the Parliamentary Channel for those who are sufficiently interested |
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, and adopted by the FSA. Can't pay royalties, I'm afraid 
Got to be the first time a phrase coined on the Oatie has made its way into Westminster. Bravo 
( that must have been a strange experience - I would find that far too frustrating to do).
