New podcast 3rd Feb

[TonyM]

For those with time on their hands SC has got back behind the mic for another podcast, this time with Niall Cooper of Fair Game, a group of clubs, fans and football experts who have come together to support many of the issues raised in Tracey Crouch's fan led review of football.  I haven't yet listened to the podcast but should be a good one

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i-bought-a-football-club-stephen-cleeve-chairman/id1507650273
https://www.fairgameuk.org/

For those who want to support Fair Game and get the Crouch Review through parliament, they are asking for people to contact their local MP, more details here https://www.fairgameuk.org/contact-your-mp or your local council https://www.fairgameuk.org/council-call  I am not a North West Norfolk constituent, nor do I live in KLWN but hopefully some of those of you that do will take the time to make contact.

[Mallard]

Sounded very much like Stephen Cleeve could see plenty of positives in the Fair Game module.   He has an open invitation to sign Kings Lynn up to it.

Will he ?

[Blue_and_Gold]

It’s not just the signing up that’s important.

It’s the taking part.

[Mallard]

The idea of NL clubs getting £1m and NLN Clubs getting £700k.  Certainly seemed to perk SC up

[Blue_and_Gold]

The idea of NL clubs getting £1m and NLN Clubs getting £700k.  Certainly seemed to perk SC up

You’ve got to be in it to win it!  🤣

[Gordon Chilvers]

That would nearly cover the outstanding debt!

[Mallard]

Have to say it was one of the better podcasts that SC has done.   

Well worth a listen for anyone who has a spare 1.5 hours.   A real in depth interview of the advantages of joining the other 34 Clubs who are signed for for this type of Club ownership.   SC said he would certainly give some careful consideration into Kings Lynn becoming part of it.

Be interesting if he doesn’t to understand the reasons why not.   Unless he was just blowing smoke up the guys jacksey

[Gordon Chilvers]

now how can you say he would possibly do that. is he renowned for it?

[TonyM]

Finally got through the whole podcast but well worth spending an hour and a half if you are interested in things going on around football at present.  For all his critics, SC really is a good interviewer when it comes to those in and around football - he asks questions that others might not and he genuinely listens to the answers and is prepared to kickback and have a proper debate.  I thought the most recent podcast with Niall from Fair Game / Wimbledon was a case in point with a number of topics covered and in much better depth than would be the case had one of the parties been a journalist.

Couple of key points from the discussion for me - SC critical of Gary Neville's stance given his involvement with Salford who have been bankrolled to their current position (without any sense of irony in terms of Lynn's rise up the leagues) and also his pressing of Niall around the independent regulation of directors and boards both in terms of qualifications and also supporter 'shadow' boards, obviously this is all still up for debate as there is currently no draft legislation but none the less interesting imo.

Mall, just one point, Fair Game is not about advocating any particular 'ownership model', something Niall was keen to highlight, the issue is around building a broad base of support for changes that encourage a more sustainable operational model (be that benefactor or fan owned) throughout football, including an independent regulator and redistributing the PL funds in a way that supports that aim, for example Fair Game's sustainability index model.  Not sure SC has really done enough reading around the area, either the Crouch Report itself or Fair Games aims and objectives but hopefully he will now take a bit of time to have a look and maybe add Lynn to the list of clubs who have signed up. 

[Mallard]

I agree Tony it wasn’t exclusively down to one form of Club ownership and Niall was certainly not saying that.   However in another breath he was always was advocating sustainable football for each Club.   So with one single person ownership what happens when the mega rich overseas owner decides he is bored with Football and leaves a Club with player contracts that could potentially bankrupt a Club.

I thought SC seemed to embrace the principle though he was also hopeful of an American investor coming in to Kings Lynn ( tongue in check I know).  Will be interesting to see if SC looks at changing his idea of running the Club.   Though he did also mention that if he was run over by a bus he didn’t think his wife would be as charitable as was with regard to the Football Club

[TonyM]

I agree Tony it wasn’t exclusively down to one form of Club ownership and Niall was certainly not saying that.   However in another breath he was always was advocating sustainable football for each Club.   So with one single person ownership what happens when the mega rich overseas owner decides he is bored with Football and leaves a Club with player contracts that could potentially bankrupt a Club...

Sustainable football shouldn't only be achievable through fan ownership, you could argue that KLTFC was sustainable under Buster with very little (if any) extra cash coming from the owner to the club.  The bit about mega rich owners is that under the Fair Game proposals / independent regulation there would carrots and sticks to reward / punish clubs to move towards a sustainable state ie without owner subsidy.  So the examples used were Wimbledon which is living within it's means and can service it's debts on its current model so would be classed as sustainable and would probably score well on that aspect of the index whereas Wrexham almost certainly isn't so would score less well, the regulator would then take this (and other criteria) into account when allocating PL monies to clubs (the carrot) as well as issuing fines / points penalties (the stick) for more serial offenders in the way other regulated industries (from schools and hospitals through to pension companies) work in an attempt to discourage the sorts of behaviours that we have seen get so many clubs into trouble in the past

[Blue_and_Gold]

So that’s Wimbledon and Wrexham categorised.

Where would Lynn come into that equation?

[Mallard]

It was suggested clubs would be regulated in this way to try and even up the have’s and have not’s.  He also understood that it wouldn’t actually stop Club owners ploughing in serious money to move up the period. 

Looking at the scenario of EFL League one Wimbledon and NL Wrexham.  Wimbledon have just sold one of their top players to Wrexham for 300k with wages to match.  How can things happen like that on one hand and then talking of a level playing field on the other.

Niall said that of the 34 clubs who are signed up most clubs are onboard with 90% of the suggestions but have varying opinions on the other 10%.  Clubs will
Still have selfish reason within this system.  After all turkeys wouldn’t vote for Christmas.

Have to say it’s all an interesting debate.  Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.   Let’s not forget with the FA and The Premiership it’s the tail that wags the dog.

Money will always talk.