Government to introduce independent football regulator

[Blue_and_Gold]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61211255

[TonyM]

Unfortunately this has the makings of still being kicked into the long grass as the white paper will be open to lobbying, the financial redistribution seems to have been thrown back for football to sort out itself (having shown time and time again that it can't) and there still isn't a timetable for any form of legislation, other than that it is good that the government have at least recognised there is a problem but we just need to keep the pressure on them to turn words into legislation and then action.

[Mallard]

Hopefully those Clubs with a Trust  interest will be ahead of the game.

[Blue_and_Gold]

Unfortunately this has the makings of still being kicked into the long grass as the white paper will be open to lobbying, the financial redistribution seems to have been thrown back for football to sort out itself (having shown time and time again that it can't) and there still isn't a timetable for any form of legislation, other than that it is good that the government have at least recognised there is a problem but we just need to keep the pressure on them to turn words into legislation and then action.

Its a start, and a foot in the door. So much money involved, nothing is going to be sorted overnight.

[rod]

Currently the subject of a phone in on LBC, with Andrew Castle hosting.

[TonyM]

Hopefully those Clubs with a Trust  interest will be ahead of the game.

It isn't really a Trust / private ownership issue, there are good and bad examples under both models, as explained by Niall Couper (director of Fair Game) in one SC's recent podcasts.  I guess the only real benefits under the Trust model is that borrowings can't get out of hand and the fanbase (or at least the Trust membership) can more easily effect change if deemed necessary.  The biggest issue for Trust run clubs is trying to compete on what is currently an uneven playing field with the level of financial doping that non-Trust run clubs can commit to and if the club subsequently goes pop all we hear about is the fans of the club that goes bust, not the fans of the club that has suffered due to that financial cheating (other clubs missed out on promotion while Histon etc had their days in the sun)

[Blue_and_Gold]

............other clubs missed out on promotion while Histon etc had their days in the sun)

........closely followed by their days in the rain.   

[Mallard]

I’m not advocating a Trust run Club more like a supporters group having inside knowledge of what is going on at a Club with of course supporting it with financial imput.

[TonyM]

Couple of documents for those who have a bit of time to kill
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-next-steps-towards-delivering-major-reform-of-football-in-england
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1071065/Assessing_the_financial_sustainability_of_football__web_accessible_.pdf

The second one is a great explanation of what sustainability doesn't look like and what the regulator (and fans) should be looking at.

Couple of responses to the government proposals here from the EFL and the Football Supporter Association:
https://www.efl.com/news/2022/april/fan-led-review-statement/
https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fan-led-review-fsa-urges-government-to-move-fast-and-legislate/

All in all, I don't think many will have moved their position with yesterdays announcement, whilst Tracey Crouch can be pleased that the proposals in her report have been included in the White Paper the EPL are still against an independent regulator and will now have another chance to water down any proposals as they are discussed over the summer.

[Blue_and_Gold]

All in all, I don't think many will have moved their position with yesterdays announcement, whilst Tracey Crouch can be pleased that the proposals in her report have been included in the White Paper the EPL are still against an independent regulator and will now have another chance to water down any proposals as they are discussed over the summer.

I don't think there are many business's that are ever in favour of an independent regulator, until its forced upon them. There's obviously a reason why it needs to be independent and reason's why organisations such as EPL would be against it.