Mashed Potatoes

I don't think that will happen. As stated above, the new law places a statutory obligation on clubs to hold regular meetings with a representative group of supporters. Any club which was in breach of that obligation could potentially have their licence to operate withdrawn by the Independent Regulator.

Isn't it more likely that we will have them "well sussed" ?

Yes, I was aware of the requirement regarding future plans for fan engagement. The problem of course is that the language in the Act and the explanatory notes is so vague that it will be some time before anybody can be sure of what quite is going to be required of our or any other club. In the meantime provided meetings continue to go ahead I suspect that delays of a few weeks in the release of minutes will not be seen by the Regulator as an issue.

I think the EFL rules - which to a degree may be superseded by the new rules in the Football Governance Act - are that clubs are required to meet twice a season with a representative group of supporters. Not sure what the rules if any are regarding the release of minutes but I doubt if a delay of 2 or 3 weeks in release of the minutes means that those rules have been broken.

The recently enacted Football Governance Act requires that clubs hold regular meetings with a representative group of supporters.

How can you know what he was offered ? Maybe it was fair and what he's looking for is excessive - I don't know, nobody on here does.

Even if the player has been offered a new contract on no worse terms ?

Yes, he will certainly have suitors - the question is whether he and his agent have significantly over-estimated the size of the financial offer that he can command.

They showed a lot of ambition when Mel Morris owned them - too much as it turned out because it bankrupted them.

Well, it's a point of view I suppose.

I'm not too sure what you mean by "private entities" but on the face of it you seem to be saying that Jack Walker should not have been allowed to buy the club.

That's a big "if". The minister has already stated that the government are opposed so it will only pass with a big backbench rebellion.

Birmingham's owners only previous experience of this division was 2 years ago when their dreadful decision making resulted in them being relegated.

It's not spin to point out that many of the problems that arise at clubs result from owners putting clubs on an unsustainable cost base and are then unable to continue - that is pointed out in the explanation for the financial sustainability tests required in the forthcoming Football Governance legislation

A one season legend - like Andy Crawford

Come off it - he singlehandedly ensured we weren't relegated.

OK -Thanks

Per the rules we have to be able to do so.

Not sure that bankruptcy would suffice for an existing owner provided a club was continuing to pay their way and could demonstrate that they could continue to do so.

It happens rarely. As we have seen at Reading there were problems over a period of years regarding non payment of wages and taxes before the owner was required to sell.

We were relegated from the Premier League in 2012. At the time parachute payments were paid to relegated clubs for the next 4 years so were still being received in 2015 and 2016.

Thank you for this. I think the club with its history and excellent Academy would attract potential purchasers without too much difficulty. The difficult issue would be negotiating a price.

Google the words "Football Governance Bill House Of Commons Library" - and then go on to the link dated 23 April 2025. Scroll down that page to the words "Explanatory Notes" as of 27 March 2025. They run for 116 pages. For the purposes of what has been discussed on this thread I think you will find pages 40 to 52 the most relevant. I was interested to see what is about to happen. My hunch is that fans are likely to be disappointed; I've seen comments on here about fans getting "more power" whereas that power is really limited to various heritage issues like club name or colour of shirts. I suspect it won't be too long before the Regulator is one of the most unpopular people in the country.

I would like the owners to sell - and have done since they sacked Sam Allardyce.

Speaking to the MPs - yes. Again, I want them to work within the system - it's just worth pointing out that the one outstanding contribution made by a supporters group was when the Trust got an Asset Of Community Value order placed over Ewood Park. That was an example of people making sure they understood the law and working within the system. As for the Coalition they've set themselves a very hard objective - advocating a sale by owners who have never shown an inclination to sell. I'm not personally able to see how they can achieve that - but Glen has made it clear that they will stay the right side of the law and that definitely is "the right thing".