The Football Governance Bill is now at the report stage in the House of Commons and we have received reassurance from the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) that the Trusts First campaign seeking primacy for Supporters Trusts will be recognised by the new Independent Football Regulator.
The Football Governance Bill committee sessions closed last week, ahead of schedule. and our submission - as the original Supporters’ Trust and also on behalf of 22 others at all levels of the game - for primacy to be guaranteed in the forthcoming legislation, was tabled on 10 June.
The submission was presented at the same time as one from the FSA, however both submissions were not discussed by MPs.
The committee will now write a report for the House of Commons and then, following a third reading, the Football Governance Bill is likely to receive Royal Assent next month.
While it is disappointing to get that far and then not get a hearing, the Government made it clear in recent months that it was not minded to countenance any amendments so the outcome was pretty much in line with our expectations.
It now seems likely that ‘light touch’ fan engagement will be in the discretionary gift of the newly-appointed Regulator.
The FSA insists that Trusts will remain at the heart of fan engagement panels or boards at their football clubs.
Indeed, the FSA’s constitution provides as one of its primary objects that it shall 'support and protect the interests of member Supporters’ Trusts.'
Trust chair Andy Roberts said: "The Trusts First coalition will be holding the FSA to account to honour its underlying obligation.
"Accordingly, we would expect the fan engagement body at any club to be democratically constituted with all members elected.
"And in the interests of accountability and transparency, we believe all fan engagement meetings should have an open agenda and one which is not dictated by the club or any club director or appointee. All meetings should be minuted and reports of meetings should be published.
"At the turn of the Millennium, the late Brian Lomax - through what was then Supporters Direct - fought so hard for supporters to have a representative and meaningful voice within their clubs.
"We hope that this important reforming Bill takes the clear opportunity to honour Brian's legacy and does not squander it."
