Shrimpers Trust cheer independent Football Regulator
The regulator, recommended as part of a fan led review of football in England was announced by the king yesterday
The Shrimpers Trust, a fan group dedicated to Southend United, is celebrating the news that the UK Government has proposed an independent football regulator.
The announcement, made during the King's Speech at the opening of Parliament, is seen as a significant step towards fixing issues in English football.
What is it?
Plans for a new independent regulator were outlined during the King's Speech, signaling a proactive response to longstanding challenges within the sport.
This move comes after the government's announcement in February to establish a regulator, following a comprehensive fan-led review last year. The regulator, as part of the Football Governance Bill, will focus on safeguarding the future of football clubs, benefitting both local communities and fans.
One key component of this initiative is the reinforcement of the owners' and directors' test, ensuring responsible and accountable club ownership.
Additionally, the regulator aims to prevent historic clubs from going out of business while giving fans a more prominent role in shaping the future of their beloved clubs.
The announcement aligns with the recommendations of the fan-led review, led by former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, which highlighted the necessity of a regulator to ensure the long-term financial stability of professional men's football in England.
Shrimper's trust reaction
The Shrimpers Trust is pleased with this development because they believe English football is facing financial problems and issues with club ownership. They hope this independent regulator will help make football clubs stronger and more connected to their local communities.
The fan group also believes that this regulator will give fans a bigger role in decisions about their clubs. They want fans to have more say in how their clubs are run and not just be treated as customers.
The Shrimpers Trust thinks that outdated club ownership models, like the one used by Southend United's Ron Martin, need to change to protect football clubs.
However, the Shrimpers Trust acknowledges that there is still work to be done to make this regulator a reality. They want to make sure that the rules aren't changed by people with their own interests in mind, rather than the good of football as a whole.
The fan group plans to keep working with important people like their local MP, Anna Firth, and the Minister of Sport, Stuart Andrew, to help create strong rules. They will use their experiences as supporters of a club at risk to help shape these rules.
The Shrimpers Trust has updated a paper called "Dereliction and Decline: The Story of Southend United Under Ron Martin." This updated version includes the impact of the paper, conversations with Stuart Andrew, and responses from Anna Firth MP and the Football Supporters Association.
To read the updated paper and learn more about the Shrimpers Trust's work, you can visit their website.