By Fan Advisory Board (23 Apr 2024)
The Everton Fan Advisory Board is inviting all football supporters to join us in emailing their local MP to seek support in calling for amendments to the Football Governance Bill to ensure that the new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) will have full oversight of Profit & Sustainability Rules and to push for fan representation on the Boards of the IFR and Premier League.
We have sent this letter to all MPs, however the majority will only respond to correspondence from people within their constituency, so we are reliant on the assistance of the wider football family to help to action this.
Here are some simple steps to assist in this process:
1) Find your MP’s email address by entering your postcode on this site
2) Download and edit our template, or copy the text below in your own letter, and update, including your own name, address and postcode.
3) Once your letter is ready, email it to your MP.
As an additional option, post your letter on social media and tag your MP with the hashtags #IFR #IFRPSR & #FanLedReview.
If you have any difficulties, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we will try to assist you.
Thank you for your support in safeguarding the future of football.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
By Email
[Date]
Dear [MP Name],
I am writing to you as a member of your constituency to seek your support in strengthening the Football Governance Bill which has its Second Reading in Parliament on 23 April 2024.
The Bill represents a unique opportunity to ensure that our game is managed fairly for the benefit of all clubs, supporters and communities. It includes provisions for the establishment of an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to promote the financial sustainability of clubs, as well as requirements for consultation with supporters to ensure that the heritage of clubs is protected. Whilst I welcome the direction of travel, the Bill doesn’t go far enough.
Financial Sustainability and Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR)
The Bill currently gives the IFR only partial oversight of financial sustainability, with no authority or oversight of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Football supporters want a predictable, transparent, principled, proportionate, fair & timely system. The chaos and confusion caused by the Premier League’s handling of PSR has proven that it is not able to meet these requirements. I believe that the IFR should therefore have full authority for financial sustainability, including the oversight of PSR. In line with the recommendations of the Fan Led Review, this should include:
Enhancing Fan Engagement
On fan engagement, it is notable that the word “fan” only appears 16 times in the entire 140-page Bill. I believe it is critical that the IFR understands the perspectives of supporters and the implications its work can have on them, football clubs, employees of the club and local communities as it carries out its duties. The Bill is currently silent on how the IFR will engage with supporters and how issues can be referred to it, with no clarity on how it will develop or measure effective supporter engagement.
In order to ensure that the interests of supporters are adequately factored into the governance and strategic decision making at the highest levels of the game, the Bill should ensure that the IFR includes:
I thank you in advance for considering the issues I have raised above, which I believe can help ensure the right safeguards are in place to protect our beautiful game; a game that is enjoyed by millions across the country. We cannot let this opportunity pass and I look for your support to ensure that the regulator has real teeth and the power to rebalance self-interest and deliver in the interest of all fans.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Welcome to the home of the recently established Everton Football Club Fan Advisory Board (FAB). We are an independent body established with the goal of ensuring that Evertonians’ voices are heard at the highest levels in Everton Football Club.
