Independent regulator of English football could 'stop another Bury happening'
It would see Premier League levy which would help teams in lower divisions
The chair of a fan-led review into football says its recommendations would stop another Bury from happening.
Bury FC were expelled from the EFL in 2019 - and former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch says an independent regulator, and a tougher fit and proper owner's test, would've stopped it.
Tracey Crouch said: "We've spoken to clubs across the pyramid, including Premier League clubs, who support the idea of an independent regulator and certainly do not see it as a threat to the growth of the Premier League or any other parts of English football.
Amongst other key recommendations the report suggests supporters should be given a "golden share" to veto major decisions at their club.
EFL Chairman Rick Parry says that this is something his body would support.
Mr Parry said: "I think greater dialogue with fans is really difficult to quibble with. Protection of heritage, assets, stadium, name, colours nobody would quibble with, but it's got to be practical.
More recently, Championship club Derby County entered administration after their finances had been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team were deducted 12 points and currently sit at the bottom of the league after being deducted another 9 points for breaching the EFL's Profitability and Sustainability rules.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says all fans, no matter what club they support, want to see change.
"The regulator is not a cure-all for football", says Maguire.
"However, in terms of some of the key issues here in respect to governance, financial distribution and protection of clubs as community assets there are positives which can be taken through having an independent party that are not acting in self interest.
"Along with the demise of Bury, Macclesfield, the problems at Wigan, Swindon, Rochdale, Derby County and so on, anything which addresses those issues is likely to be welcomed by fans.
"A lot of fans have come together and have been protective. One fan of Rochdale said to me 'I hate Bury, but I want to be able to hate Bury by that club being in existence'. They're rivalries, and we need a rivalry. We can't have that if Bury don't exist.
The football finance expert added: "Just giving more money from the Premier League to the EFL is not necessarily going to work if that money is immediately spent on wages and transfer fees. So if there is going to be redistribution that does have to come with some financial control.