Le football et la grande société

Football and the

Big Society

Paul Marshall

with Sam Tomlin

Football and the Big Society

About the authors

Paul Marshall

Paul Marshall is chairman of Marshall Wace LLP, one of Britain’s leading

hedge fund groups. He is also a founder trustee of Absolute Return for

Kids (ARK), the children’s charity, and co-Chairman of ARK Education.

He is chairman of the Management Board of CentreForum.

Previous publications include: ‘The Orange Book: reclaiming liberalism’

(2004) which he co-edited, ‘Britain after Blair: a liberal agenda’ (2006)

and ‘Tackling educational inequality’ (2007).

Sam Tomlin

Since graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Theology, Sam

has worked in the social sector and is currently working within the

venture philanthropy field for Absolute Return for Kids (ARK). Prior to

that he worked for the Shaftesbury Partnership developing one of their

venture programmes.

Acknowledgements

I would like to particularly thank Sam Tomlin for the huge support

he has provided in the research for this paper. He has the dedication

of a true (Bristol City) football fan. We would also like to thank the

following for their input: Dave Boyle, Antonia Hagemann, Oli Winton,

Brian Burgess, Steve Powell, Tim Gentles, Alan Mak, Michael Reuter,

Federico Baradello, Patrizia Nowakoski, William Harvey, Iain White,

Patrizia Barrat, Charlotte Pursey, Vincent Maguire, Oliver Bretz, Jon

Darch, Jonathan Fillis, Joel Dungate, Mayhul Gondhea, Chris Bullock,

Emilio Abejon, Michael Volkovitsch, Samuel Taylor and Andy Green.

None bears any responsibility for the views contained herein.

ISBN 1-902622-86-3 Copyright 2011 CentreForum

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Football and the Big Society

Contents

Executive summary 5

1 Introduction: Football and the Big Society 7

2 The commercialisation of English football

and its attendant benefits 9

3 But all is not well… 12

4 Reviewing ownership structures for

football clubs 22

5 A consistent and comprehensive

licensing regime 35

6 How to ensure the financial stability of

football clubs – improving on UEFA’s

Financial Fair Play rules 37

7 Ensuring ‘good’ benefactors –

enhancements to the fit and proper

person regime 41

8 Giving more influence to supporters 43

9 The failings of the FA and why government

intervention is necessary 49

Appendix: Government and sport

– how other governments are more effective 58

:

Football and the Big Society

“We will encourage the reform of football governance

rules to support the co-operative ownership of football

clubs by supporters”

Coalition agreement 2010

“Many of the honourable members will have football

clubs in their constituencies that sometimes do struggle

financially, and I think seeing one owned by its supporters

is a very positive move”

David Cameron responding to parliamentary question

from Jessica Lee MP, on future of Ilkeston Town

Football club, 20th October 2010

“Registered Supporters Trusts enabled to buy stakes in

their club bringing mutualism to the heart of football.”

Step 32 of ‘50 steps to a future fair to all’,

The Labour Party Manifesto 2010

Football and the Big Society

Executive Summary

Football is one the most popular community activities in

Britain and should be considered an integral part of the Big

Society agenda.

The commercial success of the modern game is to be

welcomed but a balance must be struck between the forces of

commercialism and the traditional values of community and

identity.

Financial debt and instability within the game have reached

unsustainable levels, causing damage to the

...