The Football Governance Bill
Originally put forward by the previous government, the Football Governance Bill had not passed through Parliament before the election, but has now been strengthened and reintroduced by the Labour Government. It proposes legislation addressing the serious challenges that have beset English football in recent times, seeks to put fans’ interests at the heart of the game and reflects the game’s failure to properly regulate itself.
Key to the Bill’s provisions is the establishment of an Independent Football Regulator with a primary responsibility to protect and promote the sustainability of English football through a licensing scheme for clubs in the top five levels of the pyramid. Specific requirements of the legislation, supported by oversight and intervention by the Regulator, will be statutory protections for key aspects of football clubs’ heritage, including their names, colours and crests, with active fan involvement required in decisions that affect them. Clubs will need to seek Regulator approval to sell or relocate home grounds, as well as to play home matches away from those home grounds. They will also be prevented from playing in competitions prohibited by the Regulator – a response to the potential for resurrected proposals for a European Super League.
Probably the most important provisions of the Bill and certainly those that will resonate most powerfully with supporters of Derby County are those that seek to improve financial resilience in the game.
Clubs will be required to demonstrate sound financial practices, have financial resources appropriate to their needs and to protect their core assets, such as the stadium. Where a football-led solution cannot be achieved the Regulator will also have powers to ensure a fairer distribution of revenue in the game – including in respect of parachute payments. Alongside stronger statutory owners’ and directors’ tests these provisions will mitigate the potential for excessive financial risk taking, with clubs being brought to the brink of ruin and beyond by chasing big pay-days further down the line, with no guarantee of success. A scenario with which we as Derby County supporters are all too familiar.
The Bill has the support of the English Football League and of fan led organisations at both club level and nationally, such as Fair Game (https://www.fairgameuk.org) and the Football Supporters’ Association (https://thefsa.org.uk). Derby County FC has already shown its commitment to enhanced fan engagement through the establishment of the Supporters’ Board.
The RamsTrust Board has already written to MPs in and around Derby to seek their support for the Bill and has received some positive responses. However, the Bill is now in the final phase of its passage through the House of Lords and hopefully will soon reach the House of Commons. As such the timing seems right for individual RamsTrust members who agree with the proposed legislation to write to their constituency MPs to request their backing for the Bill and to demonstrate the strength of support for it amongst fans.
To assist in this regard suggested wording for a letter or email has been prepared and is available to download here. This can be used “as is” or modified according to your preferences, but please include your address in order to evidence your residence in the MP’s constituency. Please also feel free to share the wording with other football fans – irrespective of allegiance – who you think may also want write to their elected representatives.