England Star Joins Fans in Football Reform Debate

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Published: 07 September 2017

Football fans from across the north-west region and a former England international, gathered in Blackpool tonight (Tuesday 5th September) in support of a new campaign that aims to accelerate the process of change to the way football clubs can be owned and run.

Supporters from Blackpool, Morecambe, Blackburn Rovers and even a Bristol City fan who had travelled from the west country, were joined by former Blackpool favourite Trevor Sinclair for a passionate two-hour debate that outlined solutions to regulate clubs and the way owners can run them. A full reform document will be delivered to government after fans have had their say at four further events across the country.

Sinclair, who won 8 caps with England in a career spanning five clubs, added his support to the campaign and said: “I fell in love with the town of Blackpool and played for the club for four years, but I’m very worried about them and others too. The problem is that English football is governed, not by one body, but by two; the FA and the Premier League. The issues it creates must be taken to Westminster and football has to be given back to the people.”

The #FansNotNumbers campaign is a joint initiative between Supporters Direct, sportswear company SKINS and social media platform, SPORF and the solutions discussed included the creation of an independent regulatory body that will be given central powers to enforce annual compliance tests on clubs and owners.

SKINS Chairman, Jaimie Fuller, a sports governance campaigner who has used his company’s international platform to mount successful challenges to governance at FIFA, the UCI and the IOC said:“if an owner mismanages the local football club, the impact on the local community is massive. It cannot be allowed to happen anymore. The FA were quick to act when they thought Sam Allardyce had brought the game into disrepute as England manager, but they struggle to be as quick with club owners and adminstrators.”

James Mathie of Supporters Direct said: “The FA needs assistance and the delivery of greater powers so that it can genuinely tackle meaningful change to how clubs are run. Currently, they have delegated too much power to the leagues which is different to most of the rest of Europe where the national organisation is in overall charge of compliance.

“Club licensing needs to be applied as a pro-active and preventative measure whereby clubs can actually be properly censured or even stopped from competing. It works successfully in most European countries, so why not here? In Germany for example, you have to earn your licence. You’re a custodian and you’re accountable on an annual basis.”

4 further events are scheduled across the country to allow fans from as many clubs as possible to play their part in shaping the final Supporters Direct reform document. They are:

 

Manchester– Wednesday 6^th September - Darlington – Thursday 7^th September

Coventry-Wednesday 13^th September - London - Thursday 14^th September

 

Full details of all events at: fansnotnumbers.org - Follow the debate on Twitter #FansNotNumbers

 

More Details,: Phil Mepham,Lyndcorft Media – 07765 237237 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Fans Not Numbers

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Published: 07 September 2017

       

 

YOUR INVITATION TO AN EXCLUSIVE FOOTBALL FORUM

BRINGING FOOTBALL BACK TO THE FANS

 

SKINS, the Sky Blue Trust and Supporters Direct, are delighted to invite you to attend an exclusive event to discuss the future of football club ownership and accountability.

 

For too long, football fans have been relegated to the bench or worse, exploited. Some owners forget that we are fans, not fools
- the lifeblood of any club and the heart of any community. When clubs fail, towns and cities do too, socially and economically.
We've seen it before. We never want to see it again.


 

WHERE	The Arena Suite, Coventry RFC, Butts Park Arena, Coventry, CV1 3GE
WHEN	Wednesday, 13th September 2017
TIME	19.00 for 19:30

 

Fans Not Numbers, Midlands is one of five regional events giving fans like you a national platform to:

·        Hear a positive call for reform in football governance

·        Join the national debate to re-shape football’s future

·        Be heard as Supporters Direct and SKINS take the fight – and the plans - to government

 

Add your voice to our voice by joining with friends from neighbouring clubs and an exclusive panel of eminent supporters and campaign champions.

 

Please indicate your intention to attend by registering at:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fans-not-numbers-coventry-tickets-37310902915

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