Football company rules to be examined by MPs

Oh no, not MPs getting involved. Can you imagine the beaurocracy created? Thinks back to "Yes Minister"

Well the FIT AND PROPER PERSONS is the biggest joke of all , how many have we seen recently
where people didnt even have the funds or backing but still bought clubs , Pompey , Notts C
and more !
Maybe they will relook at some of this?

He was a good actor the same guy who played Gerry in the Good life !
Forgotten his name!

Good work Lone ! i didnt realise he had passed away with Skin C! Shocked thought he was still alive Richard Briers still going and Felicity kendall just been doing strictlycome dancing in the uk !
P Keith moved into theartre !
There sorted !

Also The Guardian/Owen Gibson

Parliamentary committee to focus on debt in football and FA structure
• Review of English football will focus on debt
• Plans to help supporters run clubs could be encouraged


An influential parliamentary committee said today its impending review of English football would focus on areas including the level of debt carried by clubs such as Manchester United and the structure of the Football Association, claiming there was "widespread concern that current governance arrangements are not fit for purpose".

The shadow culture secretary Ivan Lewis called on the government to act on the conclusions of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, which is chaired by John Whittingdale and will begin taking evidence next year.

In the wake of the resignations of the former FA chief executive Ian Watmore, who quit in frustration at the "vested interests" on the board, and Lord Triesman, forced to step down in the wake of a newspaper sting, the future of the FA and reform of the club ownership rules became a pre-election issue.

A feeling that government intervention might adversely affect England's chances of landing the 2018 World Cup meant that it maintained a silence on the issue until last Thursday's vote. Given the level of public outrage at last week's decision, and the backdrop of England's dismal performance in South Africa, politicians now feel emboldened to act.

"The government has said it will encourage the reform of football governance rules to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters, and there is widespread concern that the governance arrangements are not fit-for-purpose," said Whittingdale.

"Our inquiry will look at the case for strategic government intervention and improved self-regulation, and will consider models which involve supporters more in how clubs are run. We are keen to hear from a wide range of interested parties, including fans, as well as the clubs themselves and their own regulatory bodies."

It is understood that the government will wait for the select committee's conclusions, likely to be delivered in April or May, before deciding on the next course of action. In the interim, the FA will appoint a new chairman – a decision seen as crucial in shaping the future direction of the governing body and the government will continue its own thinking on the issue.

The FA board will consider a list of names from its nominations committee on 22 December. That list will not now include the acting chairman Roger Burden, who withdrew his application in protest at Fifa's World Cup bidding process.

"The coalition agreement includes an undertaking to encourage the reform of football governance rules to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters, and our inquiry will consider the case for strategic government intervention in the administration of professional football clubs," said the committee. "In so doing it will look at the scope for enhancing supporter involvement in decision-making processes and consider whether current regulatory processes – including fit and proper persons tests – are adequate."

Under Labour, first Tessa Jowell then James Purnell and then Andy Burnham, a keen football fan who served on the earlier Football Taskforce, tried to make headway on the issue of FA reform but made little progress.

A key factor in the select committee's deliberations will be whether and how to pressure the FA to implement the outstanding reforms recommended by Lord Burns in 2005, introducing independent non-executives to the FA board and reforming the FA Council to better represent the game and wider society.

Burnham, in posing a series of key questions for football to answer, did succeed in encouraging the Premier League to overhaul its transparency of ownership rules, introduce financial controls and rules on homegrown players, and overhaul its fit and proper persons test.

"In the aftermath of two failed World Cup bids and the disappointing performance of England in South Africa, we have to undertake a root and branch review into the way we run football. I welcome the Select Committee inquiry as a first step in addressing some of the key issues," said Lewis.

"However, in the end government and football have responsibility for making the changes which will ensure the future success of our national game. Labour will play a full and constructive part in this debate over the next few months, however it should be clear to do nothing is no longer an option."

Other questions that the select committee will consider include examining the pros and cons of the supporters' trust shareholding model promoted by Supporters Direct and whether there are lessons to be learned from governance models in other sports, in the UK and abroad.


www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/07/government-club-debt-fa-committee