5 Aug 2010Football fans 'have a right to know club owners'

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

Football fans should be told precisely who is running their clubs to increase accountability for executives of Football League teams, according to the body's chairman Greg Clarke.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Clarke discussed the importance of football teams to local communities and gave his strong backing to a move which would force directors to declare precise details of their sides' ownership structure.

"If the village loses the pit, it leaves the villagers devastated. It is the same with the local football club," he said. "Every fan wants to know their club is in good hands and we are trying to put that information in place."

The proposal received the backing of Football League chiefs yesterday (August 4th 2010) and will be introduced along with increased parachute payments totalling £372 million across three seasons.

Earlier this week, English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore discussed plans to impose stricter rules on owners, but admitted the division could not act as "shadow directors".

Written by Terry Mitchell

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