Supporters’ Trust at Reading joins 21-group alliance calling for Football Governance Bill amendment

The Supporters’ Trust at Reading (STAR) has joined 20 other groups to call for a key amendment to the Football Governance Bill.

The alliance, led by the Northampton Town Supporters Trust, is calling for the role of trusts on Fan Advisory Boards to be enshrined in law via the Bill, ensuring that owners can’t be solely composed of persons close to and friendly with the board of the football club, as opposed to trusts.

The Bill in its current form contains no reference to the role of supporters’ trusts and, in particular, to the involvement of trusts in the fan consultation process outlined in the draft legislation.

All groups involved are working with their local MPs to push for this amendment to be tabled in the House of Commons, as fans look to put their stamp on the Bill before it receives Royal Assent later this year.

STAR is also collaborating with politicians to put forward other amendments, including expansion of asset protection, which would prohibit club assets including training grounds and car parks from being sold without fan approval.

Speaking about the supporters’ trust alliance amendment, Andy Roberts, Chair of Northampton Town Supporters Trust commented: “We are the original Supporters Trust, formed in 1992, a few months before the advent of the Premier League, and we owe a huge debt to our late founder Brian Lomax who campaigned tirelessly and passionately for supporters to be at the heart of their football clubs.

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“We recognise that the game has changed markedly during the last 33 years and yet to this day, fans continue to be disenfranchised and marginalised by club owners pursuing their own vested interests.

“Many supporter groups enjoy a good relationship with their clubs but we know that relationship can quickly change and we now have an opportunity to safeguard the voice of all fans, not just those cherry picked by clubs to sit on panels and boards.

“Consequently, we are seeking primacy in the forthcoming Football Governance Bill legislation for Supporters Trusts, and other supporter organisations that are democratically constituted, to ensure that they are fully enabled to play a meaningful part in the realm of fan engagement.

“We feel this should be mandated in the primary legislation and not left to the discretion of the Independent Football Regulator.”

Adam Jones, Football Governance Liaison at STAR, added: “At STAR, we are determined to use our experience at Reading to amplify the voice of our fanbase and strengthen the Football Governance Bill. Not only are we keen to put forward an amendment to protect club assets like stadiums and training grounds, but we also want to see owners inject an emergency fund into their club to provide teams with a safety net in the event they can no longer fund their football club.

“It’s also vital that owners can be removed by the Independent Football Regulator, something that may not be possible without amendments. The Regulator must have the power to save clubs in severe danger of liquidation. Without that survival mechanism, clubs will remain in danger of going out of business. Put simply, we can’t have another Bury.

“We are also delighted to join 19 other trusts to call for the role of supporters’ trusts on Fan Advisory Boards to be enshrined in law. Supporters’ Trusts are independent, stage elections, held accountable at AGMs and vetted by the Financial Conduct Authority, and should therefore be included in FABs. Some clubs are keen to compose their own fan boards without including trusts. Our amendment aims to change that and we would like to thank Northampton Town Supporters Trust for leading the charge on this.”

Supporters Trusts supportive of the amendment include:

Northampton Town Supporters Trust

Barnsley FC Supporters Trust

Blues Trust (Birmingham City)

We Are The Rovers (Blackburn Rovers)

Bantams Supporters Trust (Bradford City)

Doncaster Rovers Supporters Club

Exeter City Supporters’ Trust

Fulham Supporters’ Trust

Foxes Trust (Leicester City)

Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust

Luton Town Supporters’ Trust