The Government is to set up a group of experts aimed at making it easier for fans to run football clubs. The Supporter Ownership and Engagement Expert group will meet for the first time next month with representatives from Government, the Premier League, the FA, the Football League, Supporters Direct, lawyers, insolvency and tax experts and representatives from clubs that are run by supporters (Portsmouth FC, AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham). The group will be chaired by Joanna Manning-Cooper, a member of the Portsmouth Supporters Trust that is a shareholder in Portsmouth and currently director of marketing and communications for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. Sports minister Helen Grant launched the group at Portsmouth, which is owned by its fans following a takeover in 2013 after the club had gone into administration for a second time. She said: "Football fans are the lifeblood of the club they support. Owners, executives and managers may come and go but it is the fans that are the constant, loyally following their clubs through thick and thin. "We want to see what more we can do to give fans a stronger voice in how their club is run as well as looking at ways in which we can help remove some of the barriers to supporter ownership." Supporters Direct chief executive Robin Osterley added: "It's very gratifying to see the Government addressing the problems that prevent an increase in supporter ownership." Last week Labour announced a plan to be included in its general election manifesto where clubs in England and Wales would be forced to give fans 25 per cent of the places on their boards and a 10 per cent stake in the club if it were sold. https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-experts-assist-fan-ownership-063829003--sow.html
This sounds a step in the right direction, and this idea being floated is hardly a good back drop for this up an coming appeal.
Who will compensate club owners for the 10%, will they be expected to give it away or sell it to fan's groups. From that statement it would seem irrelevant if the club is not sold, and who would want to buy a club in these circumstances? Just another meaningless election promise that won't stand up to the financial might of the top four so will only apply to minnows or debt ridden free fallers.
http://www.theguardian.com/football...our-fans-boards-premier-league-football-clubs Politicians’ warm words on involving supporters in clubs could thaw pitches throughout a frozen winter. Efford has realised that, if Labour does believe clubs are more than businesses, as he and his leader, Ed Miliband, say they do, he had to commit to act. This Conservative-Liberal Democrat government actually wrote into their coalition agreement that they would “encourage co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters”. In almost a full term they have achieved nothing towards that goal. Politicians talking **** who would have thought it.
That article's from 17th October, on the 21st of October they announced what they were doing. It's taken them a while, but at least they've finally started to do something about it.
Amazing how these parties have loads of bright ideas in opposition. Labour had 13 years in power and fan involvement didn't cross their minds. If they get in will hey enact this before or after they have eradicated poverty, got rid of the deficit, provided low cost housing for everyone, brought about fill employment and all the other things they are promising but which for some reason when they were in power they failed to do but now have solutions for, This isn't political as I would level the same accusations against the Tories if they were in power as the same applies to them. It is to show facile these statements are. Where would this matter come on a list of priorities for any government when looking at things that need addressing in this country?
