IDEAL GETS THUMBS-UP FROM FANS
TRACEY Crouch’s longawaited Fan-Led Review has now been published receiving a big thumbs-up from supporters’ groups throughout the country– but not from club CEOs.
It is significant that this much-needed review of football governance is based on evidence from hundreds of supporters’ groups, including my own Torquay United Supporters’ Trust ( TUST ) and individuals.
So what is TUST’s assessment? We believe this is a thorough, comprehensive report outlining the vital changes that football has been crying out for for a long time for the benefit and sustainability of football, in particular significantly for every clubs’ supporters. Football is nothing without fans.
We endorse the recommendation for every club to have a licence with the creation of an independent regulator (IREF) to oversee compliance.
Part of the licence would see the introduction of a Shadow Board and a Golden Share, both of which would make a huge difference ensuring fans have a real say in the running of their club.
After all, owners, managers and players come and go but supporters are there for a lifetime.
At Torquay United, the current relationship between the club executive and the Trust is at best strained and as the review says, “Fans and clubs are not enemies, a genuine two way consultation between fans and clubs can be mutually beneficial”.
A lack of supporter engagement is a huge missed opportunity by clubs and at TUST we know we have so much good will and voluntary assistance to offer which is being ignored.
We also support the report’s recommendations for tightening up the owners’ and directors’ tests, particularly the need to submit a business plan for all to read.
A number of clubs in the National League this season have splashed the cash in their desire to reach the EFL, but as the review points out this is destabilising the long-term sustainability of the wider league.
Regrettably, there is no mention, as there was in the interim report in the summer, of the National League becoming part of the EFL, as a League 3.
There is a recommendation of a small scale, limited pilot for the sale of alcohol ‘in sight of the pitch’ for the National League (and League 2 but at last Thursday’s AGM TUST members gave this a cautious welcome with less than half of those attending supporting the idea.
We should emphasise that none of the recommendations in the review will be enacted until the necessary legislation goes through Parliament and to this end all supporters’ groups and individual fans are urged to write to their MP now to ask for their support when voting. TUST has produced a template for members to use.
Club CEOs should note that fans kept informed may be more understanding and less critical of decisions. Fans are the lifeblood of every club.
Tracey Crouch’s report deserves to become the blueprint of football for the future.