Chester, Maidstone and Ebbsfleet join movement in bid to reboot national game

Trio join up as

clubs start to flock to join Fair Game

‘It is time to wave good bye to inequity, irresponsibility and financial mismanagement’ - Niall Couper, Director of Fair Game

CHESTER FC, Ebbsfleet United and Maidstone United took Fair Game’s have become the ninth,10th and 11th clubs to join the coalition of football clubs working together to improve governance of football in England and Wales.

The trio have signed up to Fair Game, which already boasts Accrington Stanley, Bury AFC Cambridge United, Grimsby Town, Luton Town, Newport County AFC, Tonbridge Angels and AFC Wimbledon as members.

The group, which is in talks with 26 other clubs, will be working together to find long-term solutions to governance structures, sustainability, integrity and community issues currently in the game.

Fair Game seek to influence and work with the government’s fan-led review, chaired by Tracey Crouch MP, to ensure the opportunity for fair, lasting change is taken.

Niall Couper, director of Fair Game and a board member of the Dons Trust, owners of AFC Wimbledon, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support Fair Game has received in the last few weeks.

“This really is our chance as football clubs to change the way football is run and governed for the better.

“It is time to wave good bye to inequity, irresponsibility and financial mismanagement that has put the history, traditions and existence of our clubs at risk.

“Fair Game is calling for fairness, sustainability and success. My call to all clubs is join us and draw a line in the sand of decades of irresponsibility.”

Ebbsfleet United CEO Damian Irvine, who will serve as advisor to the organisation, said: “Given what we as a club and a wider football community have experienced the last 12 months, a sustainable, well-governed sport is something we all aspire to.

“With that in mind, Fair Game is absolutely the right vehicle to ensure mature, measured and meaningful debate and lobbying where needed. Their core principles mirror our own as a club and what we aim to reflect on behalf of our investors, partners and supporters.”

Chester Director Mike Vickers said: “Fair Game epitomises the values of Chester.

“Football needs far better governance. We need to take sustainability seriously. We need integrity in the football pyramid. And we need to work with our community.

“We can all be rivals for 180 minutes but for the rest of the season we need to come together.

“The pandemic, the European Super League, the demise of Bury and Macclesfield, and the new government review into football, have given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game.

“We need to grasp that. We want Chester to be part of that. And that’s why we’ve joined Fair Game.”

Oliver Ash, joint owner at Maidstone United, added: “Having read what Fair Game stands for, it was a simple decision for us to sign up.

“Football needs far better governance. A good example of this is last week’s National League EGM, where half the clubs voted for a motion of no confidence in the chairman and board, yet the league pass it off as a convincing result in their favour because of an unfair voting system.

“The events of the past year and the government review into football have given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game.”

If you want your club to join Fair Game sign the petition above