Charlton Athletic and Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust (CAST), the club’s independent supporters’ trust, both warmly welcome the publication of the updated bill on Football Governance.
The proposed legislation to introduce independent regulation to football is underpinned by the findings of the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance. CAST presented to the review and continue to be heavily involved in supporting the proposed legislation via the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA). Charlton’s past ownership difficulties were included in the case study learning.
Since taking over at Charlton, Global Football Partners have engaged constructively with the football authorities and politicians to lobby for the reintroduction of the bill and for specific clauses to ensure future financial stability across football. The revised bill now includes parachute payments in the remit of the regulator. This is a welcome improvement as those have been a key contributor to financial instability in the game, especially in the Championship.
The premise behind the bill of protecting our national game for this and future generations received cross party support. An earlier version of the bill was put before parliament under the previous Conservative government but it did not progress once the general election was called for July.
Last week a revised bill was introduced in the House of Lords in order to speed up its progress through Parliament. The Government press release included detail on updates which strengthen the bill as follows:
- The regulator will now explicitly require clubs to provide ‘effective engagement’ with their supporters on changes to ticket prices, and any proposals to relocate their home ground.
- The singular carve out of parachute payments in the previous draft of the bill has been dropped. The regulator will now be given the remit to include parachute payments, through the backstop mechanism, when assessing finances across the game. Excluding these payments, would have significantly reduced the ability of the regulator to take a full view of financial stability and resilience across the football pyramid.
- The regulator will no longer be required to consider government foreign and trade policy when approving club takeovers. The move ensures the regulator will be fully independent of government and industry.
- The regulator will now have the power to compel clubs to democratically select the fan representatives the club must engage with, rather than clubs making a unilateral decision. This will ensure meaningful engagement with as many supporters of a club as possible.
- There is now a clear commitment to do more to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the game. Clubs will now be required to be transparent and publish what action they are taking on EDI as part of reporting against a new football club corporate governance code that the regulator will introduce, improving decision making at clubs.
CAST Chair Heather McKinlay commented: “We are delighted that the Football Governance Bill has been reintroduced. Change to protect our clubs and recognise the importance of clubs as community assets is long overdue. The proposed legislation will provide fans with a proper say over ticket pricing and club heritage items, including the stadium. In recent months CAST and the club have been working well together, along with others, to develop a new Fan Engagement Plan which includes establishing an Advisory Board to counsel the club Board. Through this process it has become clear that CAST and the club are equally supportive of the aims of the Football Governance Bill. This should provide a solid platform for future co-operation as we aim to bring success back for the Addicks.”
Charlton Athletic CEO Charlie Methven said: “We are pleased that the bill has been substantially improved from its previous iteration; like CAST, we are looking forward to its full implementation.
"It's time now for the Premier League to take a deep breath and accept that things have to change if we are to preserve and enhance our unique football pyramid for future generations.”