The Task Force headed by former Tory Minister David Mellor, lays out its vision of a fan-friendly sport in a report published today. The report drawn up by the British Government's Football Task Force states that clubs would have to offer cheaper tickets, ensure that new strips have a minimum life span of two full seasons and to consult supporters on any plans to sell substantial quantities of shares under radical plans.
The report recommends the establishment of a Football Audit Commission (FAC) to oversee a detailed Code of Practice setting minimum standards to be met by clubs in their treatment of fans. On tickets, the Code would require all clubs to stretch the range of prices on offer, so those fans paying the highest prices would effectively cross-subsidise those paying new, lower prices.
Following recent concerns that fans views might not be served by clubs being taken over by major media companies, the report calls on all clubs to consult supporters on major decisions such as ground relocation, Stock Market flotation and major share sales. The clubs, who have been represented by the Premier League and Football League, favoured instead a code of practice, customer charters and an independent scrutiny panel with powers to monitor whether clubs are sticking to their own voluntary guidelines.
