CLUBS TO HAVE A SAY ON FUNDING CRITERIA

CLUBS and stakeholders from across the National League System are invited to provide their views on the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) in April, as the grant-giving body begins a strategic review of its funding priorities and criteria.

The review of the Premier League-financed FSIF, is seeking insight from clubs across the country on ways in which the process for applying for funding could be made easier in the future, what the future priorities for the fund should be and how the FSIF aligns with the current FA ground grading process.

The FA is also using the FSIF consultation to seek views from Non-League clubs to inform a separate review of ground grading requirements. It is proposed that any changes to the FSIF as a result of the review would be implemented ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Since it was established in 2000, the FSIF has offered more than 2,400 grants worth more than £149 million to clubs across the country, allowing them to improve safety and meet the ground grading criteria.

Over the last 12 months, the FSIF has reacted to the needs of clubs to support their ongoing sustainability during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 1,090 clubs have benefited from Premier League funding through a grant from the Matchday Support Fund, which has distributed more than £5.5 million to allow clubs to put measures in place to make grounds safer.

League representatives and clubs from Step 1 to 6 of the National League System will be contacted by email in the coming days and asked to complete a short 15-minute survey for their insight on the organisation, as it looks to modernise its processes to ensure it remains fit for purpose as we return to football and recover from the effects of Covid-19.

Dean Potter, Director of Grant Management at the FSIF said: ‘We hope that this review will provide some valuable insight into what football clubs really need as we return to football in the coming months.”

Clubs have been asked to submit their responses by no later than next Sunday.