And PL a real for big reform
SUPPORTERS TRUST PRESSES THE CASE ON TAKEOVER AND ASHLEY
“We discussed broader issues in football and issues unique to Newcastle. “The club are a unique case study in football. “One of the proposals being spoken about is putting supporters on the board – but how could you put two non-executive directors on Newcastle’s board? It does not have a board. It only has one director at the club. “Newcastle’s problems are not maybe worse than some of those down the league but they are a useful reminder that whatever is introduced by the Government it needs to try and tackle rogue clubs with rogue owners like United who don’t quite fit the big-six ‘bad owner’ narrative but are an issue in their own right. “Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley are a different sort of problematic for football because the club has no executive management structure.
“The problem is there are no rules against the way Ashley decides to run Newcastle but that does not make it right.”
The proposed Saudi takeover of the club was cited by the panel when they launched the review – with the issues over potential human rights abuses and whether foreign ownership should be encouraged mentioned as things to consider.
However, NUST took a different approach. It said the Owners’ and Directors’ Test was dysfunctional and the Premier League had not fulfilled transparency promises.
It said the organisation had also failed to support its efforts to force Newcastle into more open communication with fans’ groups.
Hurst added: “We took aim against the Premier League.
“We said there are no rules against the club refusing to be transparent or to communicate or even follow its own fan engagement guidelines, no sanction.
“They asked: ‘Did you tell the Premier League?’ and the answer is we did but the Premier League has never sanctioned any of its clubs for failure to follow those regulations.
“So are they even regulations if they are not followed? They are on paper but not followed.
“We touched on the Owners’ and Directors’ Test issues.
“There is no transparency there from the Premier League either.
“They promised transparency and to reform the ODT after the shambles of last summer but they have not. We are in favour of the independent regulator.”
How could you put two non-executive directors on Newcastle’s board? It does not have a board NUST’S Alex Hurst