A new politics for football?

By Marcus Hobley

The last ten years have seen a sharp rise in the number of attempted takeover bids of our country’s most successful and lucrative football clubs. More often than not, these “investment opportunities” for the super wealthy are, in reality, little more than a trophy to place upon the mantle piece. The takeovers and proposed takeovers have led to little good news for clubs’ balance sheets, or for supporters’ back pockets. Rather, they’ve more frequently led to heavily indebted clubs, increased ticket prices for fans and less than adequate commitments for investment by shareholders with little affection for the clubs they seek to own.

Left largely unregulated to date, the fate of these football clubs has been in the hands of the markets and major share owners. An article published today at BBC Sport, however, indicates that this may not be the case for much longer. The government is looking into the practicalities of offering fans the chance to buy a 25% stake in the clubs they support, through the good times and the bad. The proposals have been praised by Michel Platini as a step in the right direction.

Supporter stakeholding in football clubs is not only a sound idea financially; it would also be fruitful for the national game. Because while responsible ownership is one thing, talent is quite something else. Just like government, football clubs need sound infrastructure and investment to nurture the best of homegrown talent, to unleash the Wayne Rooneys and Theo Walcotts of tomorrow.

When Arsene Wenger moved to London to manage Arsenal he was largely criticised for importing a number of young players from our European neighbours. But, as he quite rightly pointed out in his defence, our academy system was outdated and consequently didn’t give local players a chance to develop and shine.

By many accounts, moves more recently to radically transform this system mean it’s shaping up a little more sustainably for the future. Supporter stakeholders – offering fans the chance to take a stake and a say in the running of clubs – can only further benefit that return to the roots for our game.

Just as is the case with government, unions, public services and the institutions that govern us all, stakeholders in football clubs – the supporters – have a right to shape their club’s operations and future. Just as people should always be at the centre of our politics, fans should always be at the centre of our football clubs.