Football Regulator

B

bfcpete

Well-known member
The Bill to establish an independent football regulator with powers is being introduced in Parliament tomorrow. 👍
 
Note : Regulator will be given backstop powers to deliver financial redistributions should the game be unable to agree a deal itself. 👍

That’s been the sticking point between the PL and EFL over this bill for the last 2 years …. some PL owners think English football didn’t start until 1992.
 
A reminder that when we got 14k signatories to our independent football regulator petition in 2018, the government response ended with this:

"At present, the regulatory framework that operates via league regulation through the PL and the EFL demonstrates there is already regulation of the governance of all football clubs. Where regulation is being managed by the existing authorities in football to the extent which it is, this negates the desire or need to establish an independent regulator"

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

This has only been introduced due to the fallout from the European super league breakaway. Just in case anyone thought that they care about the lower leagues and smaller clubs.
 
cside said:
www.premierleague.com

Premier League statement

Premier League to study Football Governance Bill, working closely with Government, parliamentarians and key stakeholders
www.premierleague.com www.premierleague.com
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That 1.6 billion figure sounds impressive, until you realise that over half of it is earmarked for parachute payments to a very small group of clubs. Not quite the benevolence they paint it as.

The Bill will be published at lunch time, I believe, and I think that 90-95% will be what was asked for by fans groups when the FLR commenced in 2021. I then expect there to be a vigorous debate about the remaining 5-10%.

Oh, and though created by statute, it will be a body independent of Government, with its own Board and governance arrangements. The Government will NOT be running it.
 
BFC_53 said:
A reminder that when we got 14k signatories to our independent football regulator petition in 2018, the government response ended with this:

"At present, the regulatory framework that operates via league regulation through the PL and the EFL demonstrates there is already regulation of the governance of all football clubs. Where regulation is being managed by the existing authorities in football to the extent which it is, this negates the desire or need to establish an independent regulator"

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

This has only been introduced due to the fallout from the European super league breakaway. Just in case anyone thought that they care about the lower leagues and smaller clubs.
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Was that our petition ?

Things change though don’t they - it has cross party support and don’t most fans support the principle of strengthening the pyramid.

Most prem players either come from EFL clubs or are loaned out to EFL clubs which obviously helps the PL make more money 💰
 
Blackpool_Rox said:
Was that our petition ?

Things change though don’t they - it has cross party support and don’t most fans support the principle of strengthening the pyramid.

Most prem players either come from EFL clubs or are loaned out to EFL clubs which obviously helps the PL make more money 💰
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It was definitely our petition.
Absolutely its needed and will hopefully improve things, but the govt trotting out examples like Bury and Macclesfield seems very hollow to me.
 
basilrobbie3 said:
That 1.6 billion figure sounds impressive, until you realise that over half of it is earmarked for parachute payments to a very small group of clubs. Not quite the benevolence they paint it as.

The Bill will be published at lunch time, I believe, and I think that 90-95% will be what was asked for by fans groups when the FLR commenced in 2021. I then expect there to be a vigorous debate about the remaining 5-10%.

Oh, and though created by statute, it will be a body independent of Government, with its own Board and governance arrangements. The Government will NOT be running it.
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I agree, there is plenty of doublespeak in the statement.

"Mindful that the future growth of the Premier League is not guaranteed, we remain concerned about any unintended consequences of legislation that could weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football."

...where "competitiveness and appeal" means keeping the same 10-or-so 'blessed' PL clubs at the top with no risk of relegation, and using fully weaponised league regulations against the clubs which they want suppressed, or the owners who don't toe the line.

I know that's straying into conspiratorial thinking, but the levels of hypocrisy in PL 'self regulation' over the last few years leaves no other possible conclusion!
 
The EPL approach is "what we have, we hold". The Sneaky Six regard Newcastle United as an interloper ; that should tell you quite a lot.

As for the their ability to self-regulate - well, that's going swimmingly, isn't it?
 
basilrobbie3 said:
The EPL approach is "what we have, we hold".
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Indeed. As spouted by the execrable (West Ham supporting) Martin Samuel in his regular diatribes against regulation, on the grounds that a greater distribution of monies would stifle competition 🤪

Although the full bill has yet to be revealed, I see (via BBC website) that campaign group Fair Game said "at first glance" it looks like the bill has "missed the target" and that they have "failed to get assurances that the regulator will have the power to intervene".
Surely that's one of the most important things that should be in the regulator's power, to step in where there's an Oyston/Bury/Reading situation?
 
Toastrack said:
Indeed. As spouted by the execrable (West Ham supporting) Martin Samuel in his regular diatribes against regulation, on the grounds that a greater distribution of monies would stifle competition 🤪

Although the full bill has yet to be revealed, I see (via BBC website) that campaign group Fair Game said "at first glance" it looks like the bill has "missed the target" and that they have "failed to get assurances that the regulator will have the power to intervene".
Surely that's one of the most important things that should be in the regulator's power, to step in where there's an Oyston/Bury/Reading situation?
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I suspect that they are talking about the backstop powers specifically Toastie. If they are drafted as I have heard, they will indeed bear some quite considerable improvement. One of many tasks still ahead of us.

We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater here though. it's almost six years to the week since BST submitted a petition to Parliament asking for independent regulation. What will be published today goes quite some way beyond what we were asking for then, in terms of scope and content. It is a huge step forwards, if you believe that football fans should have some say in how the the game is run.

I'm very pleased to see your comments about Mr. Samuel, with fine use of the word "execrable". I noticed he's toned down his enthusiasm for the EPL in his Sunday Times column recently. I can't imagine why.
 
I'm against this for a number of reasons

- How can any one person by truly independent?
- What wage is the said person going to be paid as to be honest if you are dealing with crown princes and billionaire owners its going to have to be huge to even get in the same room as some of these owners, never mind getting them to actually listen
- What industry does a independent regulator actually work? as i can't think of any
- Its going to create an extra level of bureaucracy and to be frank we have more than enough of that in the game
- The last thing we need is more Lawyers and Politicians sticking their collective noses into our great game
- What if the regulator decides Premier league clubs have to give 50% to the EFL instead of the 9% they currently give? extreme i know but you could have Premier League clubs going to the wall and a potential risk of reduced TV money

I don't understand what really needs regulating except governance and the possibly hand outs to the football league, the FA should be regulating football if they aren't might as well disband them or create another organisation to just manage a cup and a national team
 
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I support the introduction of an independent regulator. However, if it is to have teeth it will mean requiring Premier League club owners to do things they won't want to do. This may be the incentive that these owners need to take their circus overseas.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I'm against this for a number of reasons (1)

- How can any one person by truly independent (2)
- What wage is the said person going to be paid as to be honest if you are dealing with crown princes and billionaire owners its going to have to be huge to even get in the same room as some of these owners (3)
- What industry does a independent regulator actually work, as i can't think of any (4)
- Its going to create an extra level of bureaucracy and to be frank we have more than enough of that in the game (5)
- The last thing we need is more Lawyers and Politicians sticking their collective noses into our great game (6)

I don't understand what really needs regulating except governance (7) and the possibly hand outs to the football league (8), the FA should be regulating football if they aren't might as well disband them or create another organisation to just manage a cup and a national team (9)
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Lots of points there Philip.

(1) That is your prerogative, but it's a bit late, isn't it?

(2) It isn't going to be on a single person, and they are going to answer to the Board of their own organisation

(3) I'm not sure why you think wages have anything to do with the exercise of their statutory powers. But clubs will have to co-operate with them and assist them as needed - regardless of who owns them.

(4) My main experience was with the Audit Commission, who were hugely effective. In any case, different regulatory bodies have different powers and different remits, and the fact that there are good, bad and indifferent ones is irrelevant to the question of whether having one is justified in this case

(5) I think it will be bureaucratic to begin with, while new systems come in. But an approach based upon support and remedial action will mean less clubs face sanction - and it is there (the likes of Forest, Everton, Derby ec.) where the real costs and administrative burden are created

(6) They aren't lawyers, they are regulators, and they will be completely independent of Government

(7) and (8) I agree, and you have just summarised a big slice of precisely what the regulator will be focused on

(9) I completely agree with you about the FA. If they were capable of leading the game effectively, rather than in thrall to the EPL, we may never have got to this juncture. Fans groups gave them the benefit of a considerable doubt when the Bury and Macclesfield cases blew up, and they went MIA. No second chances now.
 
basilrobbie3 said:
Lots of points there Philip.

(1) That is your prerogative, but it's a bit late, isn't it?

(2) It isn't going to be on a single person, and they are going to answer to the Board of their own organisation

(3) I'm not sure why you think wages have anything to do with the exercise of their statutory powers. But clubs will have to co-operate with them and assist them as needed - regardless of who owns them.

(4) My main experience was with the Audit Commission, who were hugely effective. In any case, different regulatory bodies have different powers and different remits, and the fact that there are good, bad and indifferent ones is irrelevant to the question of whether having one is justified in this case

(5) I think it will be bureaucratic to begin with, while new systems come in. But an approach based upon support and remedial action will mean less clubs face sanction - and it is there (the likes of Forest, Everton, Derby ec.) where the real costs and administrative burden is created

(6) They aren't lawyers, they are regulators, and they will be completely independent of Government

(7) and (8) I agree, and you have just summarised a big slice of precisely what the regulator will be focused on

(9) I completely agree with you about the FA. If they were capable of leading the game effectively, rather than in thrall to the EPL, we may never have got to this juncture. Fans groups gave them the benefit of a considerable doubt when the Bury and Macclesfield cases blew up, and they went MIA. No second chances now.
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All fair points and we will never agree on this, I'm a capitalist at heart i guess and to be honest I've never really understood the need to try and stop clubs and owners spending money

Things are certainly better in regards to fit and proper owners these days, so what is the regulator actually going to do to improve things

The status quo will never be broken if there is FFP and the like in place, this proposed new idea regarding turnover spend is even more ludicrous as the big clubs will just get bigger whilst the Luton's of this world would have no chance at all in a league such as our top tier

I know I'm going off on a tangent a little but i honestly don't think football is that broken

Is football really that bad, we have the best league in the World and the most pro clubs in the World, our football pyramid is the envy of the footballing world why are we wanting to potentially hamstring our own game?

In regards to point 2 that's even worse if its a board or a committee and i still don't understand how in a tribal sport like football how people can be truly independent and they probably will be lawyers i mean what does a regulator even look like?
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
All fair points and we will never agree on this, I'm a capitalist at heart i guess and to be honest I've never really understood the need to try and stop clubs and owners spending money

Things are certainly better in regards to fit and proper owners these days, so what is the regulator actually going to do to improve things

The status quo will never be broken if there is FFP and the like in place, this proposed new idea regarding turnover spend is even more ludicrous as the big clubs will just get bigger whilst the Luton's of this world would have no chance at all in a league such as our top tier

I know I'm going off on a tangent a little but i honestly don't think football is that broken

Is football really that bad, we have the best league in the World and the most pro clubs in the World, our football pyramid is the envy of the footballing world why are we wanting to potentially hamstring our own game?

In regards to point 2 that's even worse if its a board or a committee and i still don't understand how in a tribal sport like football how people can be truly independent and they probably will be lawyers i mean what does a regulator even look like?
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Virtually every industry has a element of regulation and with real teeth

Law, financial services, press, utilities, insurance, banks, telecoms .........
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
Virtually every industry has a element of regulation and with real teeth

Law, financial services, press, utilities, insurance, banks, telecoms .........
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Real teeth? They don't work

And who funds and appoints these regulators aren't they voted for in parliament?

Robbie said they aren't political
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
All fair points and we will never agree on this, I'm a capitalist at heart i guess and to be honest I've never really understood the need to try and stop clubs and owners spending money

Things are certainly better in regards to fit and proper owners these days, so what is the regulator actually going to do to improve things (1)

The status quo will never be broken if there is FFP and the like in place, this proposed new idea regarding turnover spend is even more ludicrous as the big clubs will just get bigger whilst the Luton's of this world would have no chance at all in a league such as our top tier (2)

I know I'm going off on a tangent a little but i honestly don't think football is that broken (3)

Is football really that bad, we have the best league in the World and the most pro clubs in the World, our football pyramid is the envy of the footballing world why are we wanting to potentially hamstring our own game? (4)

In regards to point 2 that's even worse if its a board or a committee and i still don't understand how in a tribal sport like football how people can be truly independent and they probably will be lawyers i mean what does a regulator even look like? (5)
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(1) provide advice, peer review, remedial support for a start. Take a fair and even approach to all, thus promoting confidence. Over time, attract in a better class of owner who finds a well regulated working environment a comfort, and a reason to be in it

(2) I agree. It's an EPL idea, and it is designed to pull up the trapdoor behind the top six or seven clubs

(3) I strongly disagree. At the moment we have Everton, Man City, Chelsea, Forest, Reading, and perhaps Leicester and Tottenham facing possible sanction. Add in Morecambe, Reading (again), Everton (again) Rochdale and Southend (still) in precarious states and you have a sizeable problem. That's without adding in umpteen Championship clubs losing in excess of a quarter of a million pounds a week just to stand still.

(4) It's not hamstringing our game. It enjoys a colossal financial advantage over its European competitors, and still will. It is about securing the integrity of the pyramid, a pyramid that provides our elite with young talent and a pool of teams to play against, and the vast majority of the cultural value that the game has in our national consciousness.

(5). Not everyone is a football supporter, and even those that are are perfectly capable of leaving their bias at the door on the way in to work - and would recuse themselves from any case involving their club anyway. You might as well say that no Cvil Servant who votes Labour can work for the current Government. But it is nonsense, because hundreds of thousands of people can and do, every day.

Going back to "not stopping owners spending money", we have at least two clubs who are effectively owned by nation states. Their spending power is virtually limitless ; I don't see much value or attraction in watching one or the other buy all the trophies each season.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Real teeth? They don't work

And who funds and appoints these regulators aren't they voted for in parliament?

Robbie said they aren't political
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I can only speak for my sector - we do through our practicing certificate costs

I do however suspect all with self-fund

That's the plan with football as well
 
basilrobbie3 said:
(1) provide advice, peer review, remedial support for a start. Take a fair and even approach to all, thus promoting confidence. Over time, attract in a better class of owner who finds a well regulated working environment a comfort, and a reason to be in it

(2) I agree. It's an EPL idea, and it is designed to pull up the trapdoor behind the top six or seven clubs

(3) I strongly disagree. At the moment we have Everton, Man City, Chelsea, Forest, Reading, and perhaps Leicester and Tottenham facing possible sanction. Add in Morecambe, Reading (again), Everton (again) Rochdale and Southend (still) in precarious states and you have a sizeable problem. That's without adding in umpteen Championship clubs losing in excess of a quarter of a million pounds a week just to stand still.

(4) It's not hamstringing our game. It enjoys a colossal financial advantage over its European competitors, and still will. It is about securing the integrity of the pyramid, a pyramid that provides our elite with young talent and a pool of teams to play against, and the vast majority of the cultural value that the game has in our national consciousness.

(5). Not everyone is a football supporter, and even those that are are perfectly capable of leaving their bias at the door on the way in to work - and would recuse themselves from any case involving their club anyway. You might as well say that no Cvil Servant who votes Labour can work for the current Government. But it is nonsense, because hundreds of thousands of people can and do, every day.

Going back to "not stopping owners spending money", we have at least two clubs who are effectively owned by nation states. Their spending power is virtually limitless ; I don't see much value or attraction in watching one or the other buy all the trophies each season.
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Its not really a sizable problem though is it?

How many clubs have actually fully gone to the wall?

And what is a better class of owner?

Man City have the best owners in the world with all they have done with that part of Manchester, loads of community stuff with a top of the range academy producing top local talent and top flight football club playing some of the best football I've ever ever watched

In your world the Man City story wouldn't be allowed to happen
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
Its not really a sizable problem

How many clubs have actually fully gone to the wall?
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I think that's probably part of the problem really... We could do with a few going to the wall... I've been hoping that it might happen for years, but they always seem to survive... In all honesty I do think people like bazzler bobbins tend to over-play the risks and what have you... But there's a whole industry developing out there these days in the 'football governance' market...

I'd like to hope that the introduction of legislation might bring positive changes, but I suspect a lot of it will be light touch and mostly turn out to be toothless, whilst adding another layer of largely pointless bureaucracy.

Some of the wording already suggests that the Gov are well aware that the impact of going too far could have quite disastrous effects on the product quality and the revenue potential and to that extent I wouldn't anticipate anything revolutionary, which is probably a good thing.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I think that's probably part of the problem really... We could do with a few going to the wall... I've been hoping that it might happen for years, but they always seem to survive... In all honesty I do think people like bazzler bobbins tend to over-play the risks and what have you... But there's a whole industry developing out there these days in the 'football governance' market...

I'd like to hope that the introduction of legislation might bring positive changes, but I suspect a lot of it will be light touch and mostly turn out to be toothless, whilst adding another layer of largely pointless bureaucracy.

Some of the wording already suggests that the Gov are well aware that the impact of going too far could have quite disastrous effects on the product quality and the revenue potential and to that extent I wouldn't anticipate anything revolutionary, which is probably a good thing.
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It will be a complete waste of time
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
So you want clubs or TV to pay for something that may ruin the current product offer
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All industries pay to be regulated and by doing so accept the regulator may sanction them for a breach of the rules that govern them
Forgive me but I am not going to lose any sleep over the impact on Premier League team's finances
Let's remember a number were going to bugger off and play in the European Super League not that long ago and shaft the Premier League itself never mind the rest of the pyramid
The next step would be to shaft ' the legacy fans ' as they styled them by moving teams around the globe like US franchises move across that continent on a whim
The leagues are hugely distorted by the financial disparities - a fairer distribution of the TV money is well overdue
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
All industries pay to be regulated and by doing so accept the regulator may sanction them for a breach of the rules that govern them
Forgive me but I am not going to lose any sleep over the impact on Premier League team's finances
Let's remember a number were going to bugger off and play in the European Super League not that long ago and shaft the Premier League itself never mind the rest of the pyramid
The next step would be to shaft ' the legacy fans ' as they styled them by moving teams around the globe like US franchises move across that continent on a whim
The leagues are hugely distorted by the financial disparities - a fairer distribution of the TV money is well overdue
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Why on earth should there be handouts to shite to clubs in the bottom leagues?

The Premier League clubs broke away in 1992 and have earned their own money with the Sky deals

I mean who honestly wants to watch Accrington play Crawley in front of 3,000 fans on TV?
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
All industries pay to be regulated and by doing so accept the regulator may sanction them for a breach of the rules that govern them
Forgive me but I am not going to lose any sleep over the impact on Premier League team's finances
Let's remember a number were going to bugger off and play in the European Super League not that long ago and shaft the Premier League itself never mind the rest of the pyramid
The leagues are hugely distorted by the financial disparities - a fairer distribution of the TV money is well overdue
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It's not really a case of losing sleep over it mate, it's more a case of realising the knock on effects and that your desired outcome is very rarely the one that is achieved.

As the saying goes "The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions" and time and time again we have seen that play out throughout history and particularly in the political sphere. We've even witnessed it on a micro-scale with regard to our own BST, where everyone sets out with great intentions, but ultimately those intentions become corrupted, diminished and subject to the effects of human ambition.

Whenever you start to regulate and impose rules, there are always unintended consequences and so this will be no different. In the most simplistic terms, any reduction in revenue to the EPL Clubs will diminish their ability to compete for the best players, the fewer of those players there are competing in the EPL the lower the interest from the viewer, the lower the interest in the viewer the lower the revenue, the lower the revenue the less broadcasters will pay and so ultimately the size of the pie reduces for everyone.... And thereafter you are in a market where revenue starts to spiral in the wrong direction, which isn't in anyone's interests.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Why on earth should there be handouts to shite to clubs in the bottom leagues?

The Premier League clubs broke away in 1992 and have earned their own money with the Sky deals

I mean who honestly wants to watch Accrington play Crawley in front of 3,000 fans on TV?
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There is already ' handouts to shite clubs in the bottom leagues '
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
It's not really a case of losing sleep over it mate, it's more a case of realising the knock on effects and that your desired outcome is very rarely the one that is achieved.

As the saying goes "The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions" and time and time again we have seen that play out throughout history and particularly in the political sphere. We've even witnessed it on a micro-scale with regard to our own BST, where everyone sets out with great intentions, but ultimately those intentions become corrupted, diminished and subject to the effects of human ambition.

Whenever you start to regulate and impose rules, there are always unintended consequences and so this will be no different. In the most simplistic terms, any reduction in revenue to the EPL Clubs will diminish their ability to compete for the best players, the fewer of those players there are competing in the EPL the lower the interest from the viewer, the lower the interest in the viewer the lower the revenue, the lower the revenue the less broadcasters will pay and so ultimately the size of the pie reduces for everyone.... And thereafter you are in a market where revenue starts to spiral in the wrong direction, which isn't in anyone's interests.
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And no doubt those concerns will be expertly put forward by the army of lawyers and forensic accountants that the Premier League clubs will employ at an eye-watering cost to state their case
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
And no doubt those concerns will be expertly put forward by the army of lawyers and forensic accountants that the Premier League clubs will employ at an eye-watering cost to state their case
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Well we can no doubt add that to the eye-watering Tax Bill that the public will be required to fund for faffing around and introducing yet another layer of pointless bureaucracy.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Well we can no doubt add that to the eye-watering Tax Bill that the public will be required to fund for faffing around and introducing yet another layer of pointless bureaucracy.
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It really is pointless

As far as I'm aware the fit and proper person test has been improved and there are already rules in place for clubs who break the rules

Except for the handouts that the EFL clubs want, what is the point?

I don't get it and for all the bluster on this thread from the BST fellas nobody has convinced me that this is a good idea
 
The super league debacle showed that action was needed. The pyramid and our clubs are part of our culture and it needs protecting. The owners need to know that it’s not just a cash cow, it’s our National sport and the clubs are community assets.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I mean who honestly wants to watch Accrington play Crawley in front of 3,000 fans on TV?
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Probably quite a few Phil who are utterly pissed off with the Greed League and want to see (hopefully) some hard grafting players who aren't prima donnas or drama queens.

Yes the skill set might be relatively low, but give me a player grafting for a few hundred a week than for example chuffin Henderson on £300K a week or Rashford any time.

How much enjoyment do people get watching kids playing on a Sunday or non-league football?
 
It's been coming. As stated years ago, it will bring salary caps as in U.S. sports and possibly even draft pick system. Owners understand this way of doing business so nothing new to them. On the flip side the City owners might want to establish a global framework with clubs around the world. In that case will they still want the premier league to be the premier division or will they make more money by promoting other countries. If that is the case then the influence on the regulator will not be in the best interests of the British game. Independent you say? Phooey I say. A nice job with an even nicer paycheck will await the regulator when his/her time is served. Typical British. As in cars and other industries if we follow history we'll balls it up and allow another country to usurp us and become a minor player in a global enterprise.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
It really is pointless

As far as I'm aware the fit and proper person test has been improved and there are already rules in place for clubs who break the rules

Except for the handouts that the EFL clubs want, what is the point?

I don't get it and for all the bluster on this thread from the BST fellas nobody has convinced me that this is a good idea
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The main point is that it makes a few beardy weirdies think that they have some kind of say in what goes on and will no doubt end up saddling our clubs with a load of additional bullshit to satisfy their desire to form endless numbers of ever expanding committees. We may get to vote on the introduction of vegan sausage rolls instead of just talking about it and no doubt (at some point) Real Ale will be served expertly on our concourses all supplied through a centrally funded micro-brewery run for 'by the fans for the fans' etc...

There may be some benefits - who knows.... As I've said before I really couldn't give a shit.... Maybe we'll end up thanking our lucky stars that the Anoraks cared enough to do something to protect the game....
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
And no doubt those concerns will be expertly put forward by the army of lawyers and forensic accountants that the Premier League clubs will employ at an eye-watering cost to state their case
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Don't worry they'll recoup that outlay with stadium subsidies from your tax pounds at work.
 
Bend it like Suddick said:
Probably quite a few Phil who are utterly pissed off with the Greed League and want to see (hopefully) some hard grafting players who aren't prima donnas or drama queens.

Yes the skill set might be relatively low, but give me a player grafting for a few hundred a week than for example chuffin Henderson on £300K a week or Rashford any time.

How much enjoyment do people get watching kids playing on a Sunday or non-league football?
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I don't get the greed league thing either we probably have the best crop of young English players that we have every had, we have several truly World Class players currently

As for watching my kids play yes i love watching them, they want to be Bellingham and Foden not Kelvin Mellor or Shaun Whalley
 
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BFC_BFC_BFC said:
The main point is that it makes a few beardy weirdies think that they have some kind of say in what goes on and will no doubt end up saddling our clubs with a load of additional bullshit to satisfy their desire to form endless numbers of ever expanding committees. We may get to vote on the introduction of vegan sausage rolls instead of just talking about it and no doubt (at some point) Real Ale will be served expertly on our concourses all supplied through a centrally funded micro-brewery run for 'by the fans for the fans' etc...

There may be some benefits - who knows.... As I've said before I really couldn't give a shit.... Maybe we'll end up thanking our lucky stars that the Anoraks cared enough to do something to protect the game....
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"The main point is that it makes a few beardy weirdies think that they have some kind of say in what goes on and will no doubt end up saddling our clubs with a load of additional bullshit to satisfy their desire to form endless numbers of ever expanding committees"

Yep bang on maybe Tim and Christine need to grow one
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I don't get the greed league thing either we probably have the best crop of young English players that we have every had, we have several truly World Class players currently

As for watching my kids play yes i love watching them, they want to be Bellingham and Foden not Kelvin Mellor of Shaun Whalley
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I certainly wouldn't class Foden as a prima donna. He is absolute class and has a great attitude. Take a bow Pep.

Unfortunately my grandson thinks he's the new Rashford...I despair.
 
I'm happy this has been introduced and hope it doesn't die the death of 1000 cuts on its way to becoming law. I'm realistic about how much difference it will make though. Maybe not a huge amount, initially at least, but what it will do is put the EPL and its cronies know they will not have everything their own way in future.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
In massive shock news...

www.bbc.co.uk

West Ham owner Sullivan opposes football regulator

West Ham owner David Sullivan believes the Premier League "may cease" to be the top division in the world if an independent regulator is introduced.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
Let's hope it gives that serial bellend a serious dose of indigestion. I'd call that a major result and worth all the effort. What a scummy horrible club they are from top to bottom.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Why on earth should there be handouts to shite to clubs in the bottom leagues?

The Premier League clubs broke away in 1992 and have earned their own money with the Sky deals

I mean who honestly wants to watch Accrington play Crawley in front of 3,000 fans on TV?
Click to expand...

Why stop there? I mean, who honestly wants to watch Blackpool v Wycombe in front of 10,000 fans on Easter Monday? What business have clubs like that wanting to progress?

For a bloke who wants his club to "show ambition" and "be the best that it can", your thinking isn't half muddled.
 
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