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Government announces new independent regulator to ‘protect long-term future of English football’

Many feel the reform is long overdue and are now wondering if the regulations will apply retroactively.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 23rd February 2023

The UK government has revealed a bold new plan aimed at “protecting the long-term future of English football”, the main feature of which is a long-called-for independent regulator.

Announced on Wednesday evening, the new UK reform and installation of the English pyramid’s first-ever football regulator is set to be established imminently and tasked with overseeing the financial sustainability of the game and, crucially, putting “fans back at the heart of how football is run”.

Not only will the independent regulator look to ensure clubs don’t go bust as we have nearly seen on a number of occasions in recent years, it will also add extra layers of scrutiny onto prospective investors looking to buy clubs — i.e. the ‘fit and proper persons test’ the likes of Gary Neville have suggested in the past.

Sport minister Stuart Andrew sat down with Sky News‘ Kay Burley on Thursday morning to talk through the new government white paper and its various facets; for instance, noting that anyone wanting to play football will have to apply for new pro license in order to do so.

Designed to safeguard English football heritage, the main purposes of the reform are as follows:

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  • New independent regulator to help prevent repeat of financial failings seen at Derby County, Bury and Macclesfield Town.
  • Strengthened owners’ and directors’ test to protect clubs and their fans from unscrupulous owners.
  • Fans given greater say in running of clubs, and key heritage such as team names, badges and stadia at core of new plans.
  • Powers to block English clubs from joining unpopular breakaway leagues like the European Super League.
  • Plans follow the Government accepting recommendations from the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, led by Tracey Crouch CBE MP.

With more in-depth assessments of owners and directors now on the horizon, scenarios like Newcastle United and Chelsea’s recent buyout are likely to be much more complex. Many people have already warned governing bodies about the dangers of foreign investment, especially when it comes to state wealth.

In the same vein, with the impending sale of Manchester United currently in its crucial stages, it remains to be seen whether the likes of their Qatari bidders and Jim Ratcliffe will now be allowed to complete their prospective takeovers or even follow through following this new legislation.

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Perhaps one of the most crucial aims of the independent regulator is to stop English clubs from joining breakaway divisions, such as the European Super League. The overarching goal is to stave off anything that might “harm the domestic game”.

Last time round, Man United, City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham all signed up for the much-maligned breakaway league which was ultimately abandoned after massive fan protests and government intervention.

Now that there are talks of a second Super League proposal, with dozens of clubs said to have been approached already, the football regulator will prevent clubs from joining new competitions “that do not meet a predetermined criteria”, which will be set out “in consultation with the FA and fans”.

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Fan sentiment is also said to be high on the list of objectives within the government’s wider plans, insisting that they will “have a greater say in their club’s strategic decisions”, including controversial decisions like name, badge, stadium and even kit colour changes.

You can read the government’s new plans for English football HERE.

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Featured Image — Premier League/Mika Korhonen (via Unsplash)

News

High School Musical at Lowry, Salford – a night spent reliving our childhood | Review

Amy Williams Amy Williams

What a night spent reliving our childhood.

Now, I don’t want to exaggerate or seem biased, considering this is one of my favourite film trilogies of all time, but this could be the best stage show I’ve seen in a long while.

We all know how High School Musical goes, right? Set at East High, we follow Troy and Gabriella (the star basketball player, and the geeky new girl) who meet over New Year, and then become ‘star-crossed lovers’ when back at school as they’re part of two different ‘cliques’.

The duo mess with the ‘Status Quo’ when they audition for the school musical. But will they stick to what they know? Or become stars of the stage? I’m sure you know the ending. 

High School Musical is currently on stage at Lowry, Salford / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)

From the costumes and the characters, to the memorable songs (there’s actually 52 songs in this production, including a mega mix at the end), they’ve kept right to the script of the films – and that’s exactly what we wanted to see. 

Of course, the biggest throwback of them all is Kaycee Stroh – who originally featured as Martha Cox in the film trilogy – taking the role as Ms Darbus, and she was just as incredible as we expected her to be. And to see her do the iconic dance in the finale was unbelievable, 13-year-old Amy was screaming. 

Also featuring Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton, Tobias Turley as Troy, Leonor Correia as Gabriella, Caitlin Tipping Sharpay, and Luke Bayer as Ryan, it was a proper impressive cast all round.

It’s a night to properly relive your mid-00s childhood / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)

There was crowd interaction right from the off, as they taught the crowd a cheerleading routine to be included later in the show, plus for the finale, they had the lyrics on the big screen too so everyone could sing-along. 

If we could go and see this show every single night, we would – it is absolutely brilliant. 

Read more:

Celebrating 20 years of the trilogy, this brand-new production is at the Lowry until 19 September, make sure you grab tickets before it’s too late.

Get them here.

Featured Image – Matt Crockett (Supplied)

News

Fontaines D.C. announce massive return to Manchester on new European tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Fontaines D.C. are heading back to Manchester on their new European tour

Fontaines D.C. have just announced their biggest headline tour to date, including a massive arena gig here in Manchester.

The wildly popular Irish rock band are set to play a whopping 20 arena shows across Europe and the UK this autumn.

The tour has been announced in celebration of their upcoming fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, which is set for release this October.

Fontaines D.C. will hit the road just five days after the album drops, kicking off their European tour in Lisbon on 21 October.

Then they’ll make their way over to the UK, with shows in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.

Fans in their home country of Ireland are told to stay tuned for live news very soon.

As we speak, Fontaines D.C. are warming up to play one of the country’s biggest festivals, with headline slots at Reading & Leeds Festival.

They’ve already released Marianne, the first single from their new album, and frontman Grian Chatten says of the album: “The album itself is a dopamine chamber. You step inside and we test these different mind- or mood-altering pieces of music on you.”

The new record has been recorded between London, the English countryside, and Palermo, where Chatten recorded vocals in a makeshift booth built from mattresses and cushions.

He said: “There’s a poignant sense of us being on the brink of some other kind of form of humanity, or non-humanity.”

Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Thursday 3 September, with pre-sale live from 10am on Tuesday 1 September.

You can access tickets for Fontaines D.C. in Manchester HERE.

Fans who pre-order Dopamine Chamber from the official store by 6pm on Monday 31 August will gain access to the UK pre-sale.

Fontaines D.C. UK tour dates in full

  • Friday 20 November – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
  • Saturday 21 November – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Sunday 22 November – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Tuesday 24 November – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
  • Wednesday 25 November – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Friday 27 November – London, UK – The O2 Arena

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Featured image: Elizaveta Porodina

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