Terms of Reference for the Fan Led Review

[silent majority]

For those interested here's the detail;

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-terms-of-reference-for-fan-led-review-of-football

[Chris the Rover]

Thanks for that SM. I just hope something positive comes out of this. Unless there are radical changes, football as we know it is doomed, in my opinion.

[idler]

Thanks Martin. Let’s hope that the government are committed to see this through and that it benefits all clubs.

 

[Metalmicky]

Thanks SM - lets hope that they explore the football governance area fully and bring about some radical changes.  The game is losing itself as a community and fan based entity and we need to wrestle control back..

[River Don]

Since the big club brands have such reach now, and since in future their focus will be on the huge global TV audience, then I think the only protect is to give supporters co-operatives a legal veto.

For most English clubs the 50+1% ownership model isn't going to be viable, though I think giving fans co-operatives the right to buy shares going forward, could be a longterm project to making it more realistic.

Season ticket holders might also have voting rights.

[wilts rover]

Good luck.

I think I have expressed by cynisism of what this government says and what it does quite enough - so hopefully they will follow the majority of the sporting public, rather than big business, on this one.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

What happened to the existing review?

[silent majority]

What happened to the existing review?

Sorry Baz, which one?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

What happened to the existing review?

Sorry Baz, which one?

Thought a review was already underway after the Bury and Bolton fiascos looking at football governance.

[silent majority]

What happened to the existing review?

Sorry Baz, which one?

Thought a review was already underway after the Bury and Bolton fiascos looking at football governance.

No, they have been looking at it, but there's no formal review as such.

We've seen lots of reviews into football over the years, none of which really disturbed the water, but this one is different. This is the one we've been campaigning for a long time, one that's been promised for a long time, and is finally going to make a start. Don't forget this is a fan led review, therefore we set the agenda, and we'll rely heavily on our acclaimed document 'Sustain the Game' which has the support of supporter groups at nearly all 92 clubs, leading industry figures such as Jamie Carragher. Henry Winter, Colin Murray, the cross party APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) for football supporters and even Tracy Crouch herself who happens to be chairing the review. We, the FSA, are acting as secretariat for the review as well. 

This will be wide ranging and everything is currently up for discussion.

[silent majority]

Since the big club brands have such reach now, and since in future their focus will be on the huge global TV audience, then I think the only protect is to give supporters co-operatives a legal veto.

For most English clubs the 50+1% ownership model isn't going to be viable, though I think giving fans co-operatives the right to buy shares going forward, could be a longterm project to making it more realistic.

Season ticket holders might also have voting rights.

The 50+1% is on the table, as is supporters on the board of all football clubs.

Due to the failure of the ESL we have a great opportunity to maximise our demands, and as you've seen in recent days supporters across the land are up for this, I do believe its our time.

And if the numpties like Rick Parry keep harping on about the 'Project Big Picture' being resurrected then they'll only stoke the fires even more.

[SydneyRover]

This is amazing SM, a lot of hard work but if done right could truly bring the game back to fans.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agreed. As said there are many areas that need attention but transparency is a key part of football governance. I'm sure many fans would be shocked to see how their clubs are structured and supported financially.

Clubs need to good clean up to make accounting and auditing more transparent.

I fear though, it will be like asking Turkeys to vote for Christmas with some of the measures required to make the game a fairer playing field.

[River Don]

Since the big club brands have such reach now, and since in future their focus will be on the huge global TV audience, then I think the only protect is to give supporters co-operatives a legal veto.

For most English clubs the 50+1% ownership model isn't going to be viable, though I think giving fans co-operatives the right to buy shares going forward, could be a longterm project to making it more realistic.

Season ticket holders might also have voting rights.

The 50+1% is on the table, as is supporters on the board of all football clubs.

Due to the failure of the ESL we have a great opportunity to maximise our demands, and as you've seen in recent days supporters across the land are up for this, I do believe its our time.

And if the numpties like Rick Parry keep harping on about the 'Project Big Picture' being resurrected then they'll only stoke the fires even more.

I would very much like to see 50+1 I think it's probably the only sure way but Johnson made noises about it being wrong to take property from people, and these clubs have very high values... So I don't expect it to happen really.

[silent majority]

Agreed. As said there are many areas that need attention but transparency is a key part of football governance. I'm sure many fans would be shocked to see how their clubs are structured and supported financially.

Clubs need to good clean up to make accounting and auditing more transparent.

I fear though, it will be like asking Turkeys to vote for Christmas with some of the measures required to make the game a fairer playing field.

That's why an independent regulator is high on our list, we need to make the changes stick, and that can only come about if there is someone to enforce the changes required.