Fair Game vows to keep check on incoming regulator
”This is a landmark moment for the future of football. There is no doubt that this represents a huge step forward. But we cannot rest on our laurels. This is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.”
Niall Couper, CEO Fair Game
FAIR GAME has vowed to keep the new Football Regulator to account and be the ‘voice for a fairer future for football’.
The group, which represents 35 football clubs across the football pyramid, will see more than four years work finally come to fruition tonight (Tuesday 15 July) with the Lords’ expected to approve the Football Governance Bill – the final hurdle in the implementation of an Independent Football Regulator for English Football.
Last week, MPs overwhelmingly backed the Bill with a 415 to 98 vote in favour.
Fair Game CEO and founder Niall Couper acknowledges the establishment of the Regulator is a huge turning point in the history of the game, but added that the hard work starts now to ensure it is effective and is in the wider interests of football and its stakeholders.
Having has played a key role in shaping the Bill. It produced a manifesto two months prior to the initial fan-led review of football governance, commissioned numerous reports, submitted consultation documents throughout the political process, and, with consultation with clubs, academics and politicians, drafted 20 amendments to the Bill – Fair Game will continue its work in ensuring the Football Regulator delivers.
Couper said:
“This is a landmark moment for the future of football. There is no doubt that this represents a huge step forward. But we cannot rest on our laurels. This is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.
“For too long, football has been vulnerable to financial mismanagement, unsustainable spending and a culture that puts the very history and traditions of our clubs at risk. We have seen this with a number of clubs over many years and it is continuing now with the likes of Morecambe and Sheffield Wednesday.
“The legislation lays the foundation for a fairer and more transparent and financially sustainable game. The new football regulator has a very large inbox to tackle and at Fair Game, having put so much into making this a reality, we will do all we can to help. But we are also ready to help the Regulator to account and make sure it delivers the fairer future for football.
“We will offer advice and support to the regulator, both in finding solutions and delivering support for clubs. Our first acts will be to publicise our revised governance code and to produce a framework for a new distribution deal.
“As for what we want to see from the regulator, the first key actions are setting a deadline for the State of the Game report, the new Governance Code and the appointment of the new expert panel free from vested interest.”
There is also a need to educate fans and the public about the regulator, says Bill Waterson, chairman of National League club Altrincham, a Fair Game club. He said:
“There is step before we will see the impact of the regulator and that is educating the fans and public as they need to understand its remit and what it can do.
“They need to know that the regulator has a clear remit and that it is about governance and that it isn’t there to just automatically distribute cash to clubs.
“I think it is important for everyone to understand what the regulator will bring to football. I have the highest hopes it brings a much fairer outlook to football in general.
“There are clubs who are struggling financially for one reason or another, some which are not being properly run because they don’t understand the intricacies of football.
“The regulator should be able to give more assistance to these clubs in terms of organisation and help. It should also be able to identify issues before they occur.
“Crucially, I think the impact of the regulator will be to create a more level playing field because football is not a game of equals as there are the haves and the have nots. It should certainly help the have nots and give them a fairer chance to succeed.”
Waterson also praised the hard work of Fair Game for driving the Bill and ensuring it has remained on the political agenda. He added:
“I think there would have been a Regulator at some point, but a lot of credit must go to Fair Game because they have understood the issues, they have raised these issues amongst politicians, amongst stakeholders, and the press.
“They have accelerated the Regulator coming into law. As an organisation it has made a real difference.”
