Frustration over wait for football plans
WEAVER Vale MP Mike Amesbury has welcomed Government plans to set up an independent football regulator but is ‘disappointed’ it won’t happen sooner.
Mr Amesbury was among 52 MPs to back a fan-led football review chaired by former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP, with proposals that included establishing a regulator of the national game.
Government has now endorsed all 10 recommendations of this review of English football but says legislation won’t be introduced until 2024.
The Labour MP said: “I’m pleased Government has supported all the recommendations from the review.
“There is a commitment to a statutory independent regulator to regulate financial resilience and a fitness test to ensure a potential owner is a fit and proper individual or organisation to run a football club.
“Shadow boards will allow fans to have a greater input into decision making in their clubs with supporters groups to get a ‘golden share’ in their club, providing a veto on a number of key decisions.
“However, I’m incredibly disappointed Government has decided to delay the introduction of any legislation until 2024. That leaves these commitments open to be delayed or watered down by the vested interests that have tarnished our sport for so long.”
A lifelong Manchester United fan, last year Mr Amesbury spoke against his club’s involvement in a proposed breakaway to form a European Super League saying ‘greedy’ owners had become divorced from supporters.
Mr Amesbury added: “The fans’ voice has got to be at the heart of football. It’s nothing without the fans. The current model is broken. We need stronger governance and independent regulation with teeth.”
A Football Bill to implement the fan-led review has the full backing of Fair Game, a coalition of 34 value-driven professional football clubs.
The MP concluded: “In my constituency, people are football mad whether that’s about supporting local amateur sides or the big teams.
“And we have some great models at grassroots such as 1874 Northwich FC and Runcorn Linnets FC, owned and run by supporters. Both clubs are showing the way forward.
“Legislation is needed now to safeguard and protect our football clubs. We’ve got the Queen’s Speech coming up next week and I would like to see the Football Bill included as part of the Government’s forthcoming programme of legislation.”