Regulation is the only way football will stop clubs gambling with their finances
JOHN COLEMAN EXCLUSIVE
THE pandemic has shown that football is incapable of policing itself – and the national sport needs an independent regulator.
That is the view of John Coleman, the Accrington Stanley manager, and one of the most respected voices in the Football League.
Coleman’s side survive on some of the smallest crowds in the EFL, but still hold their own in League One with big clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth.
The Accies’ definition of chasing the dream is ensuring that the club keeps a roof over its head year on year.
Others have a far less responsible approach.
A reality that fans of many clubs across the country know only too well.
The pandemic has illustrated just how fragile the fabric of the English game is, with finances stretched like never before. Coleman argues that many clubs were already feeling the pinch long before Covid struck.
And now he believes the time has come for an independent body to ensure that the English game has its house in order and can survive whatever is thrown at it in the future.
Which would mean the demise of clubs such as Bury and Macclesfield could not be repeated in future.
“If people policed themselves, were more prudent and respected the football club and what it means to the community, then the sport could use this time as a chance to reset,” he said. “This could bring about something good. There needs to be a body set up to look at how clubs are run.
“Every other business is regulated – you can’t just set up a mortgage company and not be financially regulated.
“What’s the difference? Why doesn’t the same thing apply to a football club? It really needs an independent regulator.
“Football has got a habit of not learning from history.
“Look at clubs like Notts County, who were spending ridiculous amounts of money in League Two. Football doesn’t learn.
“The absence of a regulator probably led to the need for a salary cap. You’d like to think people would be a bit more responsible about their duty to the town and football club and how precious clubs are to the community.
“Don’t gamble with it. Fans won’t scold you if you’re spending money, they’ll only scold you when it’s time to pay up, and cash isn’t there.
“All supporters want their club to get as high as it can.
“But ask the Bury fans whether they would have sacrificed promotion to League One for still having a football club and I think we know the answer.”
Bury went bust before the pandemic. Macclesfield effectively disappeared from the football map back in
September. A £250million bailout from the Premier League, agreed in December, should ensure that no other club joins that sorry roll call before the season is out.
Whether others use this opportunity to build a more secure future, only time will tell.
“The lesson that football should learn from this is try and run your club a bit better – don’t spend money you haven’t got in the search of glory,” added Coleman.
“Just try and get there at a steady trot and spend what you’ve got coming in.”
As football clubs seem determined to prove over and over again, that is easier said than done.