Fan-led review published by Government praises Brentford

[TheProf]

Statement from Bees United:
We welcome the fan-led review report by Tracey Crouch especially her recommendation for a ‘golden share’ for fans along the lines of the successful BrentfordFC model.
Recommendation 28
It should be a licence condition that all licenced clubs should include within their articles of association a Golden Share requiring democratic consent to proposed actions relating to identified heritage items. Each Golden Share right should have circumstances in which it will not apply.
Some progressive clubs already provide for a Golden Share, most notably Brentford FC whose successful model provided certain veto rights over a stadium move. This ultimately did not prevent the club from moving stadium, but ensured that fans were supportive of the move. This is a good case study demonstrating that Golden Share rights can operate in a positive manner to the benefit of all concerned.’

 

[rebus]

Report link here:

Fan-Led Review of Football Governance: securing the game’s future

www.gov.uk

 

[Banana]

"The Review has therefore concluded that each club should be required to provide for a special share — a ‘Golden Share’ — in its articles of association. This share should be held by a democratically run Community Benefit Society formed under the Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 for the benefit of the club’s supporters. In most cases, this can be an existing Supporters’ Trust, provided that the constitution of such a Trust meets specified requirements. The Golden Share will require the consent of the shareholder to certain actions by the club — specifically selling the club stadium or permanently relocating it outside of its local area, joining a new competition not affiliated to FIFA, UEFA or the FA, or changing the club badge, the club name or first team home colours."

Not sure if the full report considers clubs going into administration and, if so, whether the provisions of the "Golden Share" would still apply? @TheProf ?

 

[Banana]

specifically selling the club stadium or permanently relocating it outside of its local area, joining a new competition not affiliated to FIFA, UEFA or the FA, or changing the club badge, the club name or first team home colours

Note that the BU Special Share does not protect against 4 out of 5 of these provisions. And the other one isn't protected if the owner (at the time) decides to put the club into administration in order to render it useless.

 

[JANORAK]

Note that the BU Special Share does not protect against 4 out of 5 of these provisions. And the other one isn't protected if the owner (at the time) decides to put the club into administration in order to render it useless.

Don’t forget Public Opinion though. If the town is ‘up in arms’ and there’s a Golden Share, even Badowner might reconsider.
If despicable Badowner continues, then it’s probably all over anyway (Bury FC?)

 

[Banana]

List of "contributors" is interesting....Who's this chap?

 

[Silly Hat]

List of "contributors" is interesting....Who's this chap?

View attachment 28543

There‘s an excellent artist called Cliff Brown who does life-like sketches of horses.

Apology accepted.

Cliff Brown Art

"The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude." --- Friedrich Nietzsche

cliffbrownart.blogspot.com

 

[Banana]

Interesting comments re the Shadow Board. It becomes to new de facto supporters' rep board and seems to usurp BIAS...

 

[rebus]

Interesting comments re the Shadow Board. It becomes to new de facto supporters' rep board and seems to usurp BIAS...

Who decides the composition? Holder of golden share?

 

[Banana]

Who decides the composition? Holder of golden share?

No

Democratically elected. But places reserved for
* representatives of the body holding the Golden Share;
* Equality, Diversity and Inclusion representatives;
* youth supporters;
* international supporters (if relevant);

 

[Banana]

7.22 Having considered various models and approaches, it is recommended that the mandated Shadow Board should:
a. Operate according to written terms of reference registered with IREF, which should be based on a standard IREF template (which may be varied to allow flexibility according to local circumstances if so requested by supporters and the club);
b. Consist of 5 – 12 members appointed according to a democratic process;
c. Have a Chair appointed from among its members on an seasonal basis;
d. Have reserved seats for representatives from key supporter groups including: representatives of the body holding the Golden Share; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion representatives; youth supporters; and international supporters (if relevant);
e. Members should be subject to retirement by rotation, ensuring both that there is a regular turnover of members but also that at any one time there will be a number of experienced members on the Shadow Board; and
f. Hold at least quarterly meetings with club executives, with guaranteed attendance from the club CEO or equivalent twice per year.

 

[Banana]

How is the Shadow Board elected?

"Of the various mechanisms outlined, a Shadow Board appears to offer the best
approach to achieve these objectives. Provided that the mechanism for selecting the
members is independent of the club, and that it results in members from a cross section
of the supporter base, the limited size of the Shadow Board should allow for effective
consultation."

So that's crystal then!

 

[rebus]

Swiss ramble on twitter demolishes Premier League push back on Fan led review:

Thread by @SwissRamble on Thread Reader App

Thread by @SwissRamble: Premier League clubs have pushed back against the independent regulator proposed in the recent @tracey_crouch government-led review, raising concerns about the “unintended consequences” of t...…

threadreaderapp.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1470649328880467969

 

[Ealing Bee]

"... losses would have been even higher without £5.1 bln profit from player sales, led by #CFC £602m, #LFC £359m, #AFC £356m and #THFC £336m. This is a legitimate business model, but these transactions are once-off, so cannot always be relied on to offset operating losses."

Re the "can't always be relied on" bit, a significant part of those transfer profits will have been to the big three clubs in Spain eg CFC/Hazard, LFC/Coutinho, AFC/Fabregas and THFC/Bale.

It will be years before Spanish clubs will again be lashing out big transfer fees on 'Galacticos', whether from the PL or anywhere else.

 

[hobbsy]

Following the media leakage today, the Government's full response has now been published

Government Response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance – CP 658 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

[Banana]

Following the media leakage today, the Government's full response has now been published

Government Response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance – CP 658 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

So the Govt has accepted the need for an independent regulator. Good news.

 

[hobbsy]

So the Govt has accepted the need for an independent regulator. Good news.

But only "supports" the idea of a shadow board and not enforcing it.

 

[BFC1997]

So the Govt has accepted the need for an independent regulator. Good news.

Can someone explain to me who exactly “regulates” the football industry currently?

 

[Banana]

But only "supports" the idea of a shadow board and not enforcing it.

I read that as though Nadine has some refinement ideas.

 

[Chomp]

Following the media leakage today, the Government's full response has now been published

Government Response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance – CP 658 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

35 pages! I truly wish I had the attention span to read them. I will get my information and updates from here. Come on GPG, let’s do this.

 

[Banana]

Can someone explain to me who exactly “regulates” the football industry currently?

The FA.

 

[BFC1997]

The FA.

Are they not technically “independent” from all the clubs / competitions already? E.g The PL, EFL, NL and it’s members…

The reason I ask is because you hear of the need for an “independent regulator” and it’s a bit of a buzz phrase in the media.

But what does it actually mean? How would it be materially different from what we have now?

 

[Banana]

Are they not technically “independent” from all the clubs / competitions already? E.g The PL, EFL, NL and it’s members…

The reason I ask is because you hear of the need for an “independent regulator” and it’s a bit of a buzz phrase in the media.

But what does it actually mean? How would it be materially different from what we have now?

I suggest you read the report which addresses all these questions.

 

[hobbsy]

Are they not technically “independent” from all the clubs / competitions already? E.g The PL, EFL, NL and it’s members…

The reason I ask is because you hear of the need for an “independent regulator” and it’s a bit of a buzz phrase in the media.

But what does it actually mean? How would it be materially different from what we have now?

The FA are a Shareholder of the Premier League, so no they are not independent.

 

[longtimeagobee]

I read that as though Nadine has some refinement ideas.

I expect she’ll just copy & paste somebody else’s ideas.

 

[BFC1997]

The FA are a Shareholder of the Premier League, so no they are not independent.

Ok, that makes sense.

 

[hobbsy]

I read that as though Nadine has some refinement ideas.

Yes, having now read that section, that looks likely

 

[Banana]

Yes, having now read that section, that looks likely

Yeah there may be a different approach for "smaller clubs" which, these days, doesn't include us.

Also says that clubs that have Shadow Boards in place will most likely be grant a licence. So that's an incentive for PL clubs to get moving.

 

[horshambees]

Are they not technically “independent” from all the clubs / competitions already? E.g The PL, EFL, NL and it’s members…

The reason I ask is because you hear of the need for an “independent regulator” and it’s a bit of a buzz phrase in the media.

But what does it actually mean? How would it be materially different from what we have now?

Every club has to be a member of the FA.
Which is made up of the various County FAs.
In truth the FA is only interested in the International team and allows the Premier league to run itself as does the EFL. It will get involved every now and again, but the real powerhouse in England is the 20 clubs in the Premier league.

 

[Banana]

Every club has to be a member of the FA.
Which is made up of the various County FAs.
In truth the FA is only interested in the International team and allows the Premier league to run itself as does the EFL. It will get involved every now and again, but the real powerhouse in England is the 20 clubs in the Premier league.

Incorrect, it's only interested in tickets for World Cup matches for crusty members of the various County FAs. It's a governance model not fit for purpose and any sane government would abolish it.

 

[horshambees]

Incorrect, it's only interested in tickets for World Cup matches for crusty members of the various County FAs. It's a governance model not fit for purpose and any sane government would abolish it.

International team /World Cup matches.
Without one you don't get the other.

 

[coconino]

There’s an interesting podcast episode which touches on this, links posted in the Podcasts thread.