Carlisle United have welcomed the latest move to implement the Independent Football Regulator and put its powers into law.
Click HERE to read the press release.
Carlisle United Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens said: “We welcome this as the next important step to help secure the long-term financial sustainability of the football pyramid. Change is coming but very slowly, its essential and cannot come soon enough.
"The Government has also committed to the “State of the Game Review”, which will provide the basis for the Independent Regulator’s work in making the game financially sustainable. This is also important.
"We are encouraged that the Regulator will be given backstop powers on financial deals, should the game be unable to agree a deal itself. It has been clear for years the game cannot reach a fair deal on its own, so this is the key issue.
"The Regulator needs to ensure any financial deal between the Premier League and the EFL delivers for the entire football pyramid. Football needs a fair financial flow. It takes both the PL and the EFL to do a deal, the EFL cannot do a deal on its own. Despite all its efforts, a proposal has not yet been received. This cannot go on.
"This could be a new dawn for football, but the Regulator must have the power to step in and do so when required. If the powers are delivered with the right terms, it can help to fix football’s broken financial structure by providing the essential independent oversight and interventions required to ensure that all clubs can be sustainable and thrive in a football pyramid that is fair and competitive.
"John Stevenson MP, the Carlisle member of Parliament, has been a strong and key supporter of the Regulator working with the EFL and Carlisle United to bring about this change. We thank John for his support to reform the game. He understands the importance of the game to communities like ours. He really has gone the extra mile for us in recent weeks. It made a real difference.
"Nearly three years ago, when we joined 'Fair Game' - a coalition of football clubs working together to improve governance of football, whose wesbite can be found here: https://www.fairgameuk.org/
"Back then the issues were clear, as I highlighted.
“Football must be governed with fairness, openness and transparency at its core. We must work together in a way that helps the football pyramid prosper, so clubs continue to be a force for good within the heart of their communities. We need to find long-term solutions to governance structures, tackling sustainability, integrity and community issues currently in the game."
(December 2021) - https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2021/december/chief-exec-part-one/
Nigel also added: "This remains the case.
It is now critical to ensure that the Football Governance Bill is fit for purpose and can deliver the best regulatory regime to safeguard football for future generations to come."
