Mark Loosemore started by talking about the legislation currently moving through Parliament for the Independent Regulator for English Football. He queried the level of expertise amongst the politicians scrutinising the legislation, while expecting the legislation to pass “pretty smoothly”.
Niall Couper said he had watched the three and half hours debate in the House of Lords last night on the television.
Matthew Roberts said that Scunthorpe, a club with a 125 year history who now play in the National League North, are working towards a sustainable future. “Let’s not be limited by what we can’t do, but exploit what we can do.”
Couper underlined the need to address football’s financial model. “Football’s economic situation is broken.” But he questioned whether the Bill addresses football’s financial distribution, which is dominated by clubs in the Premier League.
Noting that the ISC Manchester Summit is being held at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, he asked, “Is this a football club or is this a brand?”
Roberts said he was more optimistic and felt that the financial distribution model would change over the next couple of years.
The panel discussed how women’s football may be affected. Couper said that the treatment of women within football clubs is still a problem, suffering from “endemic sexism”. He felt the regulator would not have scope to address that.
Couper was encouraged by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, saying: “Lisa Nandy gets football.”
He felt the fact that Prime Minister Kier Starmer supports a Premier League club (Arsenal), rather than a club lower down the football pyramid, may impact on how the regulator looks.
Whatever happens, Loosemore felt there was one thing guaranteed: “The big clubs will get the lawyers out.”
Couper stressed the need for a consistency of purpose, and a robust owners and directors test.
A club levy will pay for the creation of the regulator, but Loosemore stated that it has not been made clear how this will be created, and where the financial burden will fall. Will it be a flat fee or a percentage of turnover?
Loosemore said that there is provision that incumbent owners will be judged by a new owners and directors test. Potentially, owners may be made to sell their club. Couper said it is vital that owners and directors are held to account. Roberts made the point that it is not just about rogue owners, but also well-intentioned owners who may lose interest.
Loosemore questioned why he could not find any comments from the Football Association on the regulator, which he found incredible given that it is the governing body for football in England.
Loosemore queried how independent the regulator would be and suggested the Government may have a significant influence on the regulator. “Anyone who thinks it is truly independent is delusional,” he said.
