Football clubs unite to form new movement
FAIR GAME calls on clubs to unite and change our national game for the better
FORMER ENGLAND international John Scales has joined forces with a growing band of football clubs who are demanding radical changes to the governance of our national game.
A powerful new group, called Fair Game, launches today with clubs like Cambridge United, Grimsby Town, Luton Town, Newport County AFC and AFC Wimbledon already on board. A further 20 clubs have also expressed support – all seeking to find long-term solutions to the deep-rooted problems that threaten the game’s very survival.
“This is not a breakaway – but it’s absolutely a breakthrough," said former Liverpool, Tottenham, Wimbledon, Ipswich Town and Bristol Rovers hero, John Scales.
“Fair Game can empower clubs to have a voice and force through the vital changes that are needed within the game.”
The Fair Game ambassador continued: “We simply cannot afford to ignore the chaos that is strangling the life out of our beloved game anymore. It needs to be tackled at source, otherwise calamities like Bury and Macclesfield, for example, will become more and more common.
“Fair Game will tackle head-on the every-day issues that concern us all - such as responsible and appropriate salary levels, parachute payments and the game's entire financial structuring.
“I urge every club in the country to look at our website. Study what Fair Game stands for and if those principles appeal to you, then join us and help re-shape the future of football.”
Among its many priorities, Fair Game will be pushing for independent audits of every football club, a much more vigorous fit and proper person's test - and greater and more structured supporter engagement.
Newport County AFC chairman Gavin Foxall, Fair Game’s interim chair, explained: “Our goals are simple. We want a sport that has integrity, sustainability, independent regulation and community at its heart.
“This, I believe, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Time is of the essence as Tracey Crouch has announced a fan-led review to address governance of football in the UK.
“If we want to achieve our goals then we need to grasp this moment and join together.”
Niall Couper, board member of Dons Trust, the owners of AFC Wimbledon, and the Director of Fair Game, said: “Every avalanche starts with a single snowball. The number of clubs backing us is rising every day. The momentum is growing. The more clubs that come on board the stronger we will become.
“But we need to move fast. And that’s where fans can make a difference. We are calling on fans to sign our petition on www.fairgameuk.org and call on their club to join us.”
Fair Game has already enrolled experts from law, government and accounting to provide heavyweight support. Among them is Christina Philippou, a member of the Football Collective, the UK’s leading group of football academics. The Portsmouth University lecturer added: “We've seen numerous governance reviews and reports conducted over the years, with strong recommendations but little to no change initiated. What appeals about Fair Game is the determination to develop realistic solutions and ensure they are implemented – and I am delighted to help them.”
Over the next few weeks Fair Game will be holding a series of workshops. Details of which can be found on our website www.fairgameuk.org/events