By Harry Mottram: Since 1992, 60 clubs in the top four divisions have entered administration due to financial mismanagement making staff and players redundant, suppliers unpaid and the fans potentially without a club. Introduced by the last Conservative government The Football Governance Bill will introduce an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men’s game, ensuring clubs are run sustainably and remain accountable to fans. The culture secretary Lisa Nandy and the current government – together with cross party support – have brought the bill back to life and hope it will be law later this year.
The regulator will also have powers to enforce a fairer financial distribution between the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL), with the intention of protecting smaller clubs from collapse.
On Monday April 28, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse MP, voiced her support for the Football Governance Bill and called for greater recognition of the vital role grassroots football plays in the health of the game. Her voice has been added to by Bath City FC. Robin Thomas, Chair of Bath City Youth FC, said: “Grassroots clubs like ours are vital, encouraging active lifestyles, fostering community bonds – and even providing opportunities for cultural exchange like our recent Barcelona tour.
“But investment and political support are essential for our continued development and so we welcome Wera’s support of this Bill.”
Bristol Rovers who played at Twerton Park in the past issued this statement: “Bristol Rovers FC welcomes the introduction of the Football Governance Bill in Parliament. The landmark legislation, following a fan-led review in 2021, is an essential milestone in securing the long-term financial security and sustainability of England’s football pyramid, and will bring independent input that will put supporters back at the heart of the game. The powers given to the Independent Football Regulator will ensure all clubs can not only survive, but thrive, in a fair and competitive system. The Club also looks forward to supporting the EFL in its contributions towards the IFR’s periodic State of the Game Report, which will provide evidence-based analysis of issues surrounding financial sustainability in English football. Bristol Rovers would like to express our thanks to all its local MPs, in particular Thangam Debbonaire, for their hard work and in getting the Football Governance Bill in Parliament, and look forward to further collaborative work in the months ahead on the Bill’s journey to becoming legislation.”
The bill is being reviewed in the House of Lords but the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy was frustrated by some of the Lords who appeared to be intent on ‘wrecking’ the bill with unwanted changes.
The BBC reported that the legislation, which will establish the first independent regulator for the professional men’s game in England, was reintroduced to Parliament by the government in October. It has just completed the first ‘committee stage’ in the Lords, where hundreds of potential amendments were tabled. The government is concerned that the legislation could be reclassified as a ‘hybrid bill’, which would require additional consultation with clubs.
“We really are at a critical juncture here,” said Nandy, speaking at an event organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football and the English Football League (EFL). “We’ve had what is known as a ‘wrecking amendment’ put in front of the House of Lords in recent weeks to turn this bill into a hybrid bill, which would bury it in committee for years and years to come.
“And I do want to say to that handful of peers that have decided to take that approach, ‘what you are doing is killing off the hopes and dreams and inheritance of fans who deserve far, far better’.”
The BBC explained that a hybrid bill is one that is deemed to target specific private interests – such as football clubs. It must allow those affected to submit a petition to Parliament outlining their opposition, potentially adding to the time needed for it to pass into legislation. Conservative peers have denied claims they are trying to delay the bill, insisting they are subjecting it to proper scrutiny.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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