MPs must back lower league football clubs with ‘Fair Game’ changes to Football Bill

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has urged Oldham MPs Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams to support lower league clubs with changes to the upcoming Football Governance Bill in Parliament.

Councillor Sykes said, “The English football pyramid is the envy of the world, but there is no doubt that the way we fund our beloved national game is broken. It’s lower league clubs like our own Latics that lose out because of a funding deal which only helps the big Premier League clubs.

“For every £1,000 a Premier League club gets from broadcast revenue, a team in the National League gets just 14p. Lower league clubs enrich our towns and give so much to our communities.  They deserve a fair deal.”

The Football Governance Bill – which aims to address the way football clubs are operated in England – is currently passing through Parliament. Oldham Liberal Democrats are supporting the ‘Fair Game’ campaign which is lobbying for key changes to the Bill.

Councillor Sykes said, “The Fair Game campaign is asking for sensible changes to this important Bill. We need the strongest possible rules in place to protect our football governing bodies from vested interests and corruption. We need to be sure that the Bill will mean more support for all clubs – especially lower league clubs.  And we need to protect the rights of fans to be consulted on major decisions such as the sale of a home ground.

“These are all common sense and practical recommendations and I hope our Oldham MPs will support them in Parliament.”