lappinitup 629 Posted May 16, 2017 Labour will today (Friday) unveil plans to give football fans a voice in every boardroom and buy a significant slice of the shares when the ownership of their club changes.Clive Efford MP, Labour’s Shadow Sports Minister, will launch the proposals for the biggest legislative shake-up in the governance of English and Welsh football clubs since the advent of the game.The plan, which has been drawn up in consultation with 95 football supporters’ organisations, would require supporters to come together to form a single accredited trust in return for the right to:appoint and remove up to a quarter and not less than two of a football club’s board of directors;purchase up to 10 per cent of the shares when a club changes ownership, if they so wish. Supporters have told us that this is the only way to ensure those running clubs share information, power and responsibility with them. Labour’s proposals mean fans could hold the owners of their club to account on all issues on and off the field including ticket prices, shirt sponsorship, ground naming rights, and changing the colour of the strip or the name.Labour will now consult further on the detail of these proposals with supporters.Clive Efford MP, Shadow Sports Minister said: “Too often fans are treated like an after-thought as ticket prices are hiked-up, grounds re-located and clubs burdened with debt or the threat of bankruptcy. Only this week, the BBC’s Price of football survey showed how average prices have risen at almost twice the rate of the cost of living since 2011. We have reached a tipping point in the way football is run.“The Labour Party has listened to the views of fans about changing the way football is run in England and Wales. And we want to ensure they are heard by the owners of the clubs too. We will now consult further on proposals to enshrine on the statute books the idea that football have a special place in people’s hearts – and should be the heart of our communities.”Jon Cruddas MP, head of Labour’s Policy Review, said:“The Premier League is a huge success. But football is more than a business. Football clubs are part of people’s identity and sense of belonging. Our plan is to give fans a stake in their clubs. Labour believes in sharing power and responsibility with people, and giving football fans a voice is part of our plan to change our country by devolving power to our cities, towns and communities. We believe in a society that gives power to people.”Background: In the last two decades English and Welsh football has undergone a transformation in terms of its commercial success, and in the quality of football and the experience of the spectator.The Premier League is a hugely successful product, both in footballing terms, but also commercially. But football is more than a business: football clubs are rooted in people’s communities and they are an important part of many people’s identity and sense of belonging. They also have a vital function to play in local economies.Despite their importance in the lives and communities of their supporters there are no effective means for fans to have a say in how their clubs are run or to safeguard their long term interests.This lack of accountability has led to:Supporters’ interests and identity being ignored: from clubs being relocated away from fan-bases (Coventry) to team colours and names being changed to satisfy traditions on the other side of the globe (Cardiff, Hull);Debt and insolvency: which have seen some of our oldest football clubs (Portsmouth, Leeds, Birmingham) forced into administration. 36 football league clubs (exactly half the total number of members) have gone into administration since 1992;Unsustainably high ticket prices: despite record turnover, average ticket prices in England and Wales remain amongst the highest in Europe - only this week, the BBC’s Price of football survey showed how average prices have risen at almost twice the rate of the cost of living since 2011.Policy detail: Right to appoint up to a quarter or a minimum of two of the directorsLabour would legislate to give a legally enforceable right to the Supporters Trust to appoint and remove up to one quarter and not less than two of the members of the Board of Directors.This would be underpinned by the right to obtain (under an obligation of confidentiality) financial and commercial information about the business and affairs of a football club.Supporters would not be able to block takeovers or change corporate strategy.The option of up to 10 per cent of share ownershipThe buyer acquiring control of the club (defined at a 30 per cent level) would be required to offer the Supporters Trust up to ten per cent of the shares they were buying in that transaction at the average price paid by the buyer for relevant securities in the year proceeding the change of control. That offer would be open for acceptance for not less than 240 days but the completion of the change in control could happen in the meantime.This automatic option would be capped once a Trust had acquired 10 per cent of the club’s shares, though that would not prevent the Trust from buying more shares if it wanted.Accredited Supporters’ TrustsThe legislation would contain provisions requiring Supporters Trusts to become Industrial and Provident Societies. They would be accredited to an umbrella body and would be required to meet certain governance standards, including a compliant constitution, the election of a Board with one member one vote, and provision for membership fees.The umbrella body would be required to offer training to supporters before taking up positions on Boards.We have received expert legal advice that these reforms are compatible with European law. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,459 Posted May 16, 2017 How would you decide on who to remove ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lappinitup 629 Posted May 16, 2017 [quote user="FenwayFrank"]How would you decide on who to remove ?[/quote]This is Corbyn''s version of "SACK THE BOARD" [:@][:@][:@] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diane 500 Posted May 16, 2017 Well I''ve read it thoroughly, don''t see it ever happening, whats your thoughts Purple Canary, you''re the expert on these matters? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darth Canary1 91 Posted May 16, 2017 The labour manifesto is a suicide note. I cannot vote for them in this election Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,558 Posted May 16, 2017 [quote user="Diane"]Well I''ve read it thoroughly, don''t see it ever happening, whats your thoughts Purple Canary, you''re the expert on these matters?[/quote]Diane, you exaggerate my expertise! I know a bit about how boardrooms in general work, and very occasionally I''ve had an inkling how the NCFC boardroom has worked.But this is beyond that; it is national politics - politics-politics and football-politics - and big business. The short answer is that it won''t happen anytime soon. For starters because the Conservative party will win the forthcoming election. And although parties sometimes unscrupulously steal the policies of their defeated opponents this idea won''t be taken on board.Despite the familiar horror stories of takeovers gone wrong and clubs being dismantled before fans'' eyes I don''t believe there is yet anything like the required political impetus for a free-enterprise party to force businesses to comply with this kind of measure.Not least because many of the current and potentially future owners (and not just in the Premier League) come from countries where the corporate culture is even less open than that of the UK to the kind of shareholder-fan participation here envisaged.It would take far worse events than we have seen so far - and probably involving clubs in the Premier League - for any real impetus for change to develop.That said, I could just about imagine a watered-down version being introduced willingly lower down the pyramid, in League One and League Two, for example. Not least because clubs there face the prospect of falling off the pyramid altogether.But then if we do ever end up with this kind of system the Labour plan is not radical enough for me, because the real power still lies with the owners. We have seen with Swansea how having a supporter-director proved illusory. And two directors would still be a minority to be outvoted, including on ownership. As Labour says: "Supporters would not be able to block takeovers or change corporate strategy."What would get round that problem would be the idea I floated about 10 years ago, which is to have just one supporter-director, but with a golden-share veto over a few crucial heritage decisions, including ownership. No, I don''t give that an earthly chance of happening either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted May 16, 2017 [quote user="Darth Canary1"]The labour manifesto is a suicide note. I cannot vote for them in this election[/quote]Welcome to the real world !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carrow89 0 Posted May 16, 2017 [quote user="FenwayFrank"]How would you decide on who to remove ?[/quote]Have the directors all run round the table whilst a few supporters sing On the ball. A sort of unmusical chairs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB 1,023 Posted May 16, 2017 Is that the real world where the Tories deliberately underfund the NHS, claim it is failing, privatise it (lining the pockets of their rich chums just like every other privatisation they have overseen) and we all end up having to have expensive health insurance if we want treatment?....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nuff Said 5,135 Posted May 16, 2017 I think it is FJSPSOB. The one where Labour''s "Marxist" plan to cap energy prices suddenly becomes the Tories'' help for struggling "hard-working families" (I hate that phrase).They''ll be nationalising rail companies next. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TCCANARY 263 Posted May 17, 2017 The real world to Paul Moy is one where he told us just after the Brexit vote that UKIP would be forming the next government. [:D] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 2 Posted May 17, 2017 Or the real world where living standards have dropped for the first time since the 1930''s, food banks have risen beyond control, wages have stagnated, basic needs such as Gas, Electric, Travel have increased in cost by a huge amount (despite wages not increasing), the 1% have seen their wealth go up by 15% in a year and it is seen as sensible that our "leaders" say they will use a nuclear weapon first (if Islamic terrorists dream of going to heaven, how is the threat to bomb them back to the stone age a deterrent...oh it isn''t)... that real world? One nation conservatism does not exist. as the wife cheating idiot Boris said... Greed is good.Turkeys voting for Xmas springs to mind... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginja 26 Posted May 17, 2017 As a wealthy individual in the higher tax bracket and a household income in the top 5% I welcome people voting Tory, I enjoy being well off and look forward to being even more well in the future, plus with immigration being cut to 10s of thousands I can only see my profession becoming more in demand and my wages increasing further so a big thank you to the not so fortunate who are stupid enough to vote for the Tories [:D] [:P] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 2 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Ginja"]As a wealthy individual in the higher tax bracket and a household income in the top 5% I welcome people voting Tory, I enjoy being well off and look forward to being even more well in the future, plus with immigration being cut to 10s of thousands I can only see my profession becoming more in demand and my wages increasing further so a big thank you to the not so fortunate who are stupid enough to vote for the Tories [:D] [:P][/quote]A strong and stable reply .....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginja 26 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Mike "][quote user="Ginja"]As a wealthy individual in the higher tax bracket and a household income in the top 5% I welcome people voting Tory, I enjoy being well off and look forward to being even more well in the future, plus with immigration being cut to 10s of thousands I can only see my profession becoming more in demand and my wages increasing further so a big thank you to the not so fortunate who are stupid enough to vote for the Tories [:D] [:P][/quote]A strong and stable reply .....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz[/quote]Sorry did the blatant sarcasm whoosh past you, I''m not voting Tory and I highly recommend the average person doesn''t either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 2 Posted May 17, 2017 It did not whoosh past me.... but I can see why you thought it had. Stupid me...The zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz was for the Strong and Stable bullsh*t spouted by the far right Tory party.Onwards & upwards Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginja 26 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Mike "]It did not whoosh past me.... but I can see why you thought it had. Stupid me...The zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz was for the Strong and Stable bullsh*t spouted by the far right Tory party.Onwards & upwards[/quote][Y] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB"]Is that the real world where the Tories deliberately underfund the NHS, claim it is failing, privatise it (lining the pockets of their rich chums just like every other privatisation they have overseen) and we all end up having to have expensive health insurance if we want treatment?.......[/quote]Well you could opt instead for the real world of Venezuela !! If we don''t live within our means that is the worst case scenario, again visited on an unsuspecting population by socialism and leftie unaffordable policies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,330 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Mike "]Or the real world where living standards have dropped for the first time since the 1930''s, food banks have risen beyond control, wages have stagnated, basic needs such as Gas, Electric, Travel have increased in cost by a huge amount (despite wages not increasing), the 1% have seen their wealth go up by 15% in a year and it is seen as sensible that our "leaders" say they will use a nuclear weapon first (if Islamic terrorists dream of going to heaven, how is the threat to bomb them back to the stone age a deterrent...oh it isn''t)... that real world? One nation conservatism does not exist. as the wife cheating idiot Boris said... Greed is good.Turkeys voting for Xmas springs to mind...[/quote]MikeIslamist leaders have absolutely no intention of blowing themselves up. They get brainwashed fools to do the dirty work for them You know, the kind of Islamist leaders that Jeremy Corbyn is in love with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Rock The Boat"][quote user="Mike "]Or the real world where living standards have dropped for the first time since the 1930''s, food banks have risen beyond control, wages have stagnated, basic needs such as Gas, Electric, Travel have increased in cost by a huge amount (despite wages not increasing), the 1% have seen their wealth go up by 15% in a year and it is seen as sensible that our "leaders" say they will use a nuclear weapon first (if Islamic terrorists dream of going to heaven, how is the threat to bomb them back to the stone age a deterrent...oh it isn''t)... that real world? One nation conservatism does not exist. as the wife cheating idiot Boris said... Greed is good.Turkeys voting for Xmas springs to mind...[/quote]MikeIslamist leaders have absolutely no intention of blowing themselves up. They get brainwashed fools to do the dirty work for them You know, the kind of Islamist leaders that Jeremy Corbyn is in love with.[/quote]But he isn''t in love with the sponsors of terrorism, Saudi Arabia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginja 26 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Rock The Boat"]They get brainwashed fools to do the dirty work for them You know, the kind of Islamist leaders that Jeremy Corbyn is in love with.[/quote]As opposed to Theresa May, who is tough and stands up to Islamist leaders...[img]http://i.imgur.com/uQlYaNC.png[/img] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 2 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="paul moy"][quote user="Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB"]Is that the real world where the Tories deliberately underfund the NHS, claim it is failing, privatise it (lining the pockets of their rich chums just like every other privatisation they have overseen) and we all end up having to have expensive health insurance if we want treatment?.......[/quote]Well you could opt instead for the real world of Venezuela !! If we don''t live within our means that is the worst case scenario, again visited on an unsuspecting population by socialism and leftie unaffordable policies. [/quote]You mean we need strong and stable economic policies that allowed the banks and hedge fund managers to run up trillions & trillions of debt, we then bail them out and end up paying for it whilst the city gets an average 15% pay rise last year alone? We can easily pay for more socially moral policies as shown by the Scandanavia economies.PS Tories governments have borrowed more and increased the national deficit FAR more than labour governments. Not convinced go look it up... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Mike "][quote user="paul moy"][quote user="Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB"]Is that the real world where the Tories deliberately underfund the NHS, claim it is failing, privatise it (lining the pockets of their rich chums just like every other privatisation they have overseen) and we all end up having to have expensive health insurance if we want treatment?.......[/quote]Well you could opt instead for the real world of Venezuela !! If we don''t live within our means that is the worst case scenario, again visited on an unsuspecting population by socialism and leftie unaffordable policies. [/quote]You mean we need strong and stable economic policies that allowed the banks and hedge fund managers to run up trillions & trillions of debt, we then bail them out and end up paying for it whilst the city gets an average 15% pay rise last year alone? We can easily pay for more socially moral policies as shown by the Scandanavia economies.PS Tories governments have borrowed more and increased the national deficit FAR more than labour governments. Not convinced go look it up...[/quote]If you don''t understand why the Tories have borrowed more when an annual deficit has been running for almost a decade, from 160 Billion down to around 50 Billion, then I''m not surprised. Suffice to say that a Labour government over the same period would obviously have had to borrow much much more as they have been against all commonsense austerity measures at every turn. Here'' a clue .... 160 Billion times 10 years = 1.6 Trillion !!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,558 Posted May 17, 2017 I''d just like to apologise for taking this thread on topic... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diane 500 Posted May 17, 2017 Oh Purple what have you done lol. That was an interesting post of Lappins to discuss Labour''s footballing proposal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,558 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="Diane"]Oh Purple what have you done lol. That was an interesting post of Lappins to discuss Labour''s footballing proposal[/quote]I know, I know. I should have known better than to post a sensible reply... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lappinitup 629 Posted May 17, 2017 Yep. Let''s get back to Norwich City and the effect this would have on the club if Labour win the election and then made this ruling. Can you imagine the delicious irony if the Trust representatives outed Ed Balls? [:S] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 5,558 Posted May 17, 2017 [quote user="lappinitup"]Yep. Let''s get back to Norwich City and the effect this would have on the club if Labour win the election and then made this ruling. Can you imagine the delicious irony if the Trust representatives outed Ed Balls? [:S][/quote]I am actually trying quite hard not to imagine that...[:P] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites