Petition to change EFL governance

A message to ALL football fans, regardless of which club you follow;

Blackpool Supporters Trust has recently created a government petition with the following aim;

The Government must introduce an independent regulator for English football. We urge the Government to introduce an independent regulator for English football, charged with ensuring the highest possible standards of governance for all clubs.

The troubles we have endured at Blackpool FC during the Oyston ownership are well documented and make unbelievable reading, which has culminated in the Oystons being made to pay Valeri Belokon over £30m.

Blackpool FC has become a by-word in the football community for mismanagement and crisis, and yet after a period several years, nothing has been done. The EFL shows no sign that it understands what its leadership role in this area should be, and as it clearly can’t - or won’t - rise to the challenge, then we feel that the Government must step in to lead the process of fundamental reform that is clearly needed.

Blackpool is not the only club in such circumstances. Other 'crisis' clubs include AFC Wimbledon, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Fulham, Leyton Orient, Leeds United.

Football clubs are too precious and too much a part of the fabric of our national life, to be left to the mercy of unregulated and often unscrupulous ownership. They need the protection of a robust regulatory framework that offers a range of sanctions against wrongdoers, mechanisms that allow problems to be confronted before they become deep-rooted and a governing body that has the desire to use it.

As football fans, I would ask that you join us in trying to bring about change within the game and hopefully prevent future owners from loading clubs with debt, asset stripping and running clubs into the ground.

We are all fans and we should stick together to ensure the clubs we love are owned and managed properly.

The petition can be found here – https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/213108

Thank you all for your support and if you have Twitter, please feel free to tweet this or add on Facebook - get this message out there!!

If you are a member of any other of your club's fans forums, please post this on there to spread the word – we, as fans, are all in this together.

Please let us know if you sign it, or even disagree with the petition by adding a comment/thumbs up. You can also sign the petition if you are browsing as a guest on this forum.

MODS: please could you make this a sticky for us, we need all the support we can get

 

This is a premiership club. Not our problem.....YET

 

Doesn't matter what league you are in, the EFL needs to become more accountable. The petition is for the benefit of ALL clubs.

 

It is up to the clubs to be more responsible.....Some spend money they dont have and cry wolf when they go pear shape....

 

Fair play Dai, that's one of the most patronising posts I've ever seen on this forum.

 

Thank you

 

If we don't try, we won't get. At least it will highlight the fact the EFL are not fit for purpose and hopefully, make life very uncomfortable for them..

 

In what way are they not fit for service ?

 

Just from a BFC perspective;

• They had Karl Oyston on their board - twice!!
• They ignored or did nothing when they received numerous calls from fans regarding owner issues over an extended period of years
• They backed the owner (a convicted rapist) and the chairman saying they were 'fit and proper' to be in their positions
• They stopped Oyston snr from having day to day input to the running of the club. It was shown in the High Court that he had continued, regardless of what the EFL said and yet he is still running the club
• They banned Valeri Belkon from having any form of directorship/ownership within a week of an article from a kangeroo court in Kryzikstan emerging. To overturn this decision they say it may take years
• They took no action against Oyston when he started to sue fans - even though what they were saying has since been proven in the High Court

And this is just a few things I can think of specifically think of off the top of my head in a couple of minutes relating to just one club

That is why they are not fit for purpose.

 

Your wasting your time with Dai. He just loves to argue just for the sake of it.

 

Doesn't harm to add sone quick examples in there for reference

 

The petition now has over 8,000 signatures and we still need a lot more.
We really need your help to make this happen

 

Come on Jacks, get signing as we need your help

 

Done and good luck!!

 

Diolch yn fawr mate

Not bad for an Englishman eh??

 

Not bad at all!!

 

Over 10,000 signatures received.
Come on Swans, be the first area in Wales to change colour on the petition map.

 

Almost 11.,000 signatures received. Come on Jacks, help us out

 

I'm number 10,920

 

signed, 10951 for me.