Oldham Liberal Democrats call on MPs to back lower league football clubs with ‘Fair Game’ changes to Football Bill

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has urged Oldham MPs Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams to support lower league clubs with changes to the upcoming Football Governance Bill in Parliament. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The English football pyramid is the envy of the world, but there is no doubt that the way we fund our beloved national game is broken.  It’s lower league clubs like our own Latics that lose out because of a funding deal which only helps the big Premier League clubs.”

“For every £1,000 a Premier League club gets from broadcast revenue, a team in the National League gets just 14p.  Lower league clubs enrich our towns and give so much to our communities.  They deserve a fair deal.”

The Football Governance Bill – which aims to address the way football clubs are operated in England – is currently passing through Parliament.  Oldham Liberal Democrats are supporting the ‘Fair Game’ campaign which is lobbying for key changes to the Bill. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The Fair Game campaign is asking for sensible changes to this important Bill.  We need the strongest possible rules in place to protect our football governing bodies from vested interests and corruption.  We need to be sure that the Bill will mean more support for all clubs – especially lower league clubs.  And we need to protect the rights of fans to be consulted on major decisions such as the sale of a home ground.”

“These are all common sense and practical recommendations and I hope our Oldham MPs will support them in Parliament.”

Sykes letter (2/12/24) to Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams in full:

Dear Mr McMahon/Ms Abrahams,

RE: Fair Game changes to the Football Governance Bill

There is no doubt that English football is broken and I’m writing to ask for your support, as one of Oldham’s Members of Parliament, to help fix it.

The following statistics from Fair Game analysis speak for themselves in demonstrating just how bad the current situation is:

• More than half of clubs are technically insolvent; in any other industry this would not be allowed to happen.
• For every £1000 a Premier League club gets from broadcast revenue, a team in the National League gets a meagre 14p!
• Parachute payments are growing in importance and are distorting financial distribution between the leagues. In each of the last five seasons, two or the three promoted clubs were in receipt of parachute payments. In the 11 seasons before that, it was only 10.
• The voting structures of the bodies that can address the gaps, all favour those who benefit from the growing divide.
  
  

As you know, in March, the Football Governance Bill was introduced and included the introduction of a new Independent Football Regulator. The Bill was in Committee stage when Parliament was suspended due to the general election.

But now your government has promised to re-introduce it, a chance to make it even stronger than before. Football needs you.

We need a Bill that tackles the growing financial inequality in the game, and ensures the regulator is truly independent, has the powers it needs to deliver proper solutions and can reward well run clubs.

For the sake of fans and clubs up and down the country, I’m asking you to call on the Government to back Fair Game’s proposed changes in full.

You can read more detail on Fair Game’s proposed amendments to the original bill here.

Football in England is more than just a game. Our clubs are community assets but in order to serve fans and communities, they need to exist.

Without these amendments, the Regulator won’t be able ensure financial fairness and sustainability for ALL clubs across the English pyramid, putting our clubs very future at risk.

Please use your voice and influence to ensure the proposed Football Governance Bill is truly fit for purpose.

At risk is decades of history and tradition, the hearts of local communities across the country and the hundreds of local businesses that depend on their local club.

I also encourage you to organise a meeting with Fair Game’s CEO Niall Couper to discuss the matter further.  You can do so by emailing niall.couper@fairgameuk.co.uk

Best wishes,

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE