mattylad
Member
Dear Mr Evans,
Thank you for your message of 5 July, to the Department about Coventry City FC. I have been asked to reply.
We are sorry that the supporters of Coventry City FC have had to face such turmoil in off field dealings at their club over recent seasons, which, ultimately, will have an effect throughout the Club, including performances on the pitch. Although, as I am sure you will understand, the Minister cannot comment on the specific points raised, the Government is concerned about instances of general financial mismanagement, and lack of transparency in ownership, and has been urging the football authorities to make changes to address these. The Government recognise that football governance needs reforming and, whilst the Government has urged the football authorities to take ownership of the governance of the game, they will look at bringing forward legislation, if football does not make sufficient progress.
The Government welcomes the recent report from the Select Committee on football governance which shows the will there is across Parliament for football to modernise and change for the better. Ministers have been clear that they want the football authorities to carry out the reforms they promised by the start of the 2013-14 season, most notably around improved governance and diverse representation at the FA, the development of a licensing system and greater financial transparency.
It is hoped that the FA's proposed licensing system will address concerns around financial sustainability, ownership of clubs and supporter interests. There are a number of other recent developments which will help with progress on this subject. These include the FA’s, enhanced 'Owners' and Directors' Test', and professional football's move towards adopting the Financial Fair Play rules, which require football clubs, among other things, to introduce more discipline and rationality in club football finances and to encourage clubs to compete within their revenues.
The Minister continues to monitor this situation closely. Now that the Select Committee has concluded its deliberations, the Department is currently considering their report and will respond in due course.
Thank you, again, for writing, with all my very best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Dempster Marples
Library, Arts, Broadcasting and Broadband Policy Officer
Thank you for your message of 5 July, to the Department about Coventry City FC. I have been asked to reply.
We are sorry that the supporters of Coventry City FC have had to face such turmoil in off field dealings at their club over recent seasons, which, ultimately, will have an effect throughout the Club, including performances on the pitch. Although, as I am sure you will understand, the Minister cannot comment on the specific points raised, the Government is concerned about instances of general financial mismanagement, and lack of transparency in ownership, and has been urging the football authorities to make changes to address these. The Government recognise that football governance needs reforming and, whilst the Government has urged the football authorities to take ownership of the governance of the game, they will look at bringing forward legislation, if football does not make sufficient progress.
The Government welcomes the recent report from the Select Committee on football governance which shows the will there is across Parliament for football to modernise and change for the better. Ministers have been clear that they want the football authorities to carry out the reforms they promised by the start of the 2013-14 season, most notably around improved governance and diverse representation at the FA, the development of a licensing system and greater financial transparency.
It is hoped that the FA's proposed licensing system will address concerns around financial sustainability, ownership of clubs and supporter interests. There are a number of other recent developments which will help with progress on this subject. These include the FA’s, enhanced 'Owners' and Directors' Test', and professional football's move towards adopting the Financial Fair Play rules, which require football clubs, among other things, to introduce more discipline and rationality in club football finances and to encourage clubs to compete within their revenues.
The Minister continues to monitor this situation closely. Now that the Select Committee has concluded its deliberations, the Department is currently considering their report and will respond in due course.
Thank you, again, for writing, with all my very best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Dempster Marples
Library, Arts, Broadcasting and Broadband Policy Officer
