Friday 17 October 2014 13:15, UK
Labour wants to give football fans a greater say in the running of clubs by granting representation on boards.
Under the new proposed laws, recognised supporters' trusts assigned with a minimum of two board members would be able to appoint up to a quarter of their club's board in an effort to ensure their voices are heard by owners.
The measures, which will be in Labour's manifesto, would come into force should Labour win the general election and are aimed at forcing the owners and management of clubs in England and Wales to acknowledge the impact of their decisions on the fans who are the lifeblood of the game.
Fans will also be given a right to purchase up to 10 per cent of the shares whenever a stake of at least 30 per cent is put up for sale.
Supporters Direct, the group which helps fans to set up co-operatives known as supporters' trusts, has welcomed the announcement.
We believe that putting fans on the boards will mean that their voices are heard when those issues are being discussed.
A statement on their website read: "The most important element of this proposal is the right for fit and proper supporters' trusts to appoint and remove up to a quarter of a football club's board of directors; this signals the establishment of the formal relationship between supporters' trusts and their clubs, which we have sought for many years."
Kevin Rye of Supporters Direct, told Sky Sports News HQ: "The standout part of this proposal is the fans on the board.
"The importance of this is that they’re in the middle of the decision making process and that affects the way that clubs are run- and that affects the way the game is run at the very top.
"The important point of this proposal, for a start, it’s an important change to the way the game operates on a day-to-day level that decisions in the board room will be affected by this measure, if it comes to happen.
"The affect will be significant because it will affect the way that clubs are run and owned."
Fourteen of the 92 clubs in the English football league currently have fans on the board, with Swansea City the highest-ranked side to be part-owned by fans.
Four of those sides are fully owned by the fans - AFC Wimbledon, Exeter, Portsmouth and Wycombe.
Labour acknowledged the plan would not give fans the power to block takeovers or change corporate strategy, but insisted that electing fans into the boardroom would make clubs more accountable.
Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford believes supporters have concerns about the rising cost of football individual fans and families and that fans are often treated like an after-thought.
"We believe that putting fans on the boards will mean that their voices are heard when those issues are being discussed,” Efford said.
Efford added Labour were "absolutely certain" the two measures could be introduced, and that the UEFA was "very supportive" after informal discussions about the plans.
The move follows recent rows involving Cardiff City, whose owner Vincent Tan changed the colour of the team's shirts from blue to red, and at Hull City where Assem Allam wants to rebrand the club as Hull Tigers.
Jon Cruddas, the head of Labour's policy review, said: "The Premier League is a huge success. But football is more than a business. Football clubs are part of people's identity and sense of belonging.
"Our plan is to give fans a stake in their club."
