The Independent, <\/a>has been signed by trusts from Carlisle to Torquay, and from the Championship through Leagues 1 and 2, to the National League and beyond.<\/p>\nIt follows polling earlier this year which showed more than 70 per cent or football fans wanted to see greater opportunity for supporter ownership of football clubs.<\/p>\n
The letter reads:<\/h2>\n
Dear Tracey Crouch MP,<\/p>\n
The Fan Led Review is a once in a generation opportunity to change our game for the better. As its Chair, we know you understand that. Supporter ownership must be part of the answer \u2013 we hope you understand that too.<\/p>\n
We write today \u2013 as representatives of Supporters Trusts and community organisations \u2013 to both make the case for greater fan ownership of our football clubs, and to demonstrate the widespread support for community ownership across the game.<\/p>\n
There is no larger community institution than a football club. Up and down the country, and throughout the leagues, football clubs are so much more than what happens on the pitch. They are social hubs, economic anchor institutions, drivers of civic pride and leaders in local action. They create shared value which goes well beyond the charitable works they provide \u2013 from foodbanks to vaccination campaigns and much, much more. In many cases, they are the glue that keeps a community together.<\/p>\n
But football clubs, especially outside the Premier League, are at risk \u2013 from the financial crisis consuming our game, and from owners and investors who put their own interests above the hopes, dreams and history of a community and a beloved local institution.<\/p>\n
We understand that the Fan Led Review is likely to recommend a football regulator to help place the game on a more sustainable footing and a \u2018golden share\u2019 to ensure that the most egregious anti-fan steps can be blocked.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a good start. But it\u2019s not enough. Fans should have more than an opportunity to block the very worst an out-of-touch owner can do. We should open the door to allow more fans to own their own clubs.<\/p>\n
After all, community ownership can have tremendous benefits for everyone \u2013 especially for clubs in crisis. For the club it means survival, security and sustainability, for the fans it means their club is run by true custodians not distant owners, and for wider society it means a huge institution right in the heart of the community committed to creating social value.<\/p>\n
The Fan Led Review must, therefore, find a way to open the door for fan ownership. When clubs are put up for sale, all too often Supporters Trusts can\u2019t even get on the pitch because of the need for day one capital \u2013 even when they can show a sound long-term business plan. That has to change \u2013 Power to Change, for example, have suggested the establishment of a Community Club Ownership Trust to help fan groups get over that first hurdle.<\/p>\n
Football without the fans is nothing. It\u2019s time to shift the balance of the game back towards the communities that make it what it is.<\/p>\n
Today, there are too many barriers to supporter ownership. The Fan Led Review should help tear them down.<\/p>\n
SIGNED<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Blues Trusts (Birmingham City, Championship)<\/li>\n
- CAS Trust (Charlton Athletic FC, League One)<\/li>\n
- RICT (Lincoln City, League One)<\/li>\n
- The Posh Trust (Peterborough United, League One)<\/li>\n
- Pompey Supporters Trust (Portsmouth FA, League One)<\/li>\n
- BCST (Bradford City, League Two)<\/li>\n
- CUOSC (Carlisle United, League Two)<\/li>\n
- NTFC Trust (Northampton Town, League Two)<\/li>\n
- Push the Boundary (Oldham Athletic, League Two)<\/li>\n
- TRSC (Tranmere Rovers, League Two)<\/li>\n
- Dale Trust (Rochdale AFC, League Two)<\/li>\n
- Exeter City (Supporter Owned Club, League Two)<\/li>\n
- TUST (Torquay United, National League)<\/li>\n
- KLFC Trust (Kings Lynn FC National League)<\/li>\n
- Camden and Islington United FC (Supporter Owned Club, Middlesex County Football League)<\/li>\n
- Dunstable Town (Supporter Owned Club, Spartan South Midlands Football League)<\/li>\n
- FC United (Supporter Owned Club, Northern Premier League)<\/li>\n
- Enfield Town (Supporter Owned Club, Isthmian League Premier Division)<\/li>\n
- 1874 Northwich (Supporter Owned Club, Northern Premier League Division One)<\/li>\n
- Bury AFC (Supporter Owned Club, North West Counties\u00a0League\u00a0First Division North<\/li>\n
- Hinckley AFC (Supporter Owned Club, United Counties League Division One)<\/li>\n
- Grays Athletic (Supporter Owned Club, Isthmian League North)<\/li>\n
- Chester FC (Supporter Owned Club, National League North)<\/li>\n
- Hendon FC (Supporter Owned Club, Southern League Premier Division South)<\/li>\n
- Vidhya Alakeson (Power to Change)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Find out more about out campaign These Clubs are Ours: putting football in community hands<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/our-work\/campaigns\/these-clubs-are-ours\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Find out more” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a joint letter to Tracey Crouch MP ahead of the publication of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, supporters trusts are calling for action to support fan and community ownership of our football clubs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":20646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"National charity the Plunkett Foundation releases two major reports revealing that the number of community owned businesses continued to grow and thrive amidst declining sectors and the severe trading difficulties of the pandemic.\r\n\r\nBUTTON TO REPORT\r\n\r\nNew figures show that the community business sector continued to grow throughout 2020, despite several lockdowns, restrictions and the economic uncertainty of Covid-19. By the end of 2020 there were 139 community pubs trading across the UK \u2013 with 13 new openings and a sector growth of 11%. Community shops demonstrate the same resilience with 13 new openings and a sector growth of 3% and bringing the total to 392 community-owned and run shops.\r\n\r\n\u00a32.7 million was raised through community shares by the 13 newly opened community pubs that opened last year. The 13 community shops that also opened in 2020 raised \u00a3328,055 in community shares.\r\n\r\nAdditionally confidence levels are extremely high. Despite a difficult trading year 84% of community pubs are confident about the coming months. 98% of those surveyed based their confidence on being community-owned referencing an unparalleled loyal local customer base, dedicated support from volunteers and being in tune with their community\u2019s needs.\r\n\r\nThe findings are published in The Better Form of Business reports produced by the Plunkett Foundation \u2013 a charity which supports predominantly rural communities across the UK to tackle the issues they face through community business. The reports were funded by Power to Change, an independent trust supporting community businesses in England.\r\n\r\nAcross the UK community owned pubs and shops responded swiftly to the needs of the people they serve. They provided even more services than before, including: home deliveries; takeaways; online clubs; developing accommodation; sourcing food from local producers and helping the most vulnerable in their communities - the elderly, those living alone, self-isolating, on low incomes or living in isolated locations. Significantly 84% of community shops saw an increase in trade in 2020.\r\n\r\nJames Alcock, chief executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said: \u201cThe resilience of community-owned shops and pubs is truly remarkable. These businesses and the courageous communities that run them have proved themselves time and time again to be innovative, flexible and truly seeking to reflect the needs of the people they serve.\r\n\r\n\"They have supported the most vulnerable in their communities throughout the pandemic and in response those communities are supporting them. With over 800 community businesses across the UK and 500 groups currently seeking to establish community-owned businesses - they not only support their local community but play a key role in regional and national recovery from the pandemic.\u201d\r\n\r\nCommunity-owned shops were already providing a wide range of services, many including cafes, post offices and stocking locally produced goods. Since the pandemic they have increased their goods from local producers and introduced new click-collect and delivery services. Community pubs faced many challenges, like the rest of the hospitality sector, but many have diversified starting takeaway schemes, delivery services, developing their outside spaces and some offering new shops within the pubs.\r\n\r\nJohn Dawson, head of social investment at Power to Change, said: \u201cLike all businesses, community businesses have felt the financial impacts of Covid-19. But unlike many businesses, they\u2019ve also been working with some of the most vulnerable in their communities throughout the crisis and the need for their services has increased.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Better form of Business report demonstrates a sector that has not only adapted to the changing landscape and remained resilient, but grown - despite the challenges they faced.\u201d\r\n\r\nKey findings of the reports:\r\n\r\nCommunity Pubs \u2013 A Better Form of Business 2021\r\n
\r\n \t- Community pub sector grew by 11% with 13 new pubs opening during the year<\/li>\r\n \t
- 139 community pubs in total were trading across the UK at the end of 2020<\/li>\r\n \t
- \u00a32.7 million was raised from 2,616 community shareholders by 13 newly opening community pubs<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCommunity Shops \u2013 A Better Form of Business 2021\r\n
\r\n \t- 13 new community shops opened in 2020 an increase of 3%<\/li>\r\n \t
- 392 community shops were trading in the UK by the end of the year<\/li>\r\n \t
- \u00a3328,055 was raised in share capital from 1,800 new members by 11 newly opening shops in 2020<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAn estimated \u00a37.5m in community shares has been raised from shops and \u00a327m for pubs to the end of 2020.\r\nThe survival rate of pubs and shops remains extremely high, 96% and 92.6% respectively.\r\n\r\nBUTTON TO REPORT","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[339],"tags":[338,350,349],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28453"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28453\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}