EFL Fit and Proper Owners Process | Vital Football

EFL Fit and Proper Owners Process

Stan_disher

Stan_disher

Vital Squad Member
Good afternoon all, Wigan fan here.

The reason for my post is to make you aware of a petition, started by Wigan fans, to get the EFL Fit and Proper Owners Process debated in parliament with the hope that the EFL will be forced to review, revamp and make it fit for purpose to protect the future of football clubs in England.

For those of you not familiar with Wigan Athletic's current problems, very briefly, Wigan Athletic was sold by one offshore business to a second offshore business during June this year. Within days of acquiring the club, the new owners put it into administration resulting in a 12 point EFL penalty and ultimately relegation from the Championship.

The club was well managed, did not have any outstanding bills, there was no notice or rumour that this was going to happen and currently no sensible explanation why this was done so quickly. However, the new owners had been approved by the EFL.

Subsequently, many people have lost their jobs, charitable projects have ceased, fantastic work within schools and the local area has been adversely affected and the whole community is in a state of shock and devastation. The club is having to sell players to pay wages and bills and even if we survive and win our appeal against the 12 point penalty, it is very likely that our current squad will be decimated.

If this can happen to Wigan Athletic, it can happen to any club.

In recent times we have seen other Football League clubs suffer similar problems, some even go out of business altogether (eg Bury) and each time the EFL states that we must learn lessons......... but nothing ever changes.

Wigan fans feel this is now a watershed moment. Many clubs are likely to experience serious financial problems due to the effects of the Covid 19 crisis. We need a governing body that will look after and protect its members in the best possible way, starting with the Fit and Proper Owners review.

If you feel you would like to support our cause then please follow the link below and sign the petition.

This is not about getting Wigan's 12 point penalty removed, it is about demanding the EFL take responsibility and become accountable for their actions.

Thanks for your time.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331589
 
Stan_disher said:
Good afternoon all, Wigan fan here.

The reason for my post is to make you aware of a petition, started by Wigan fans, to get the EFL Fit and Proper Owners Process debated in parliament with the hope that the EFL will be forced to review, revamp and make it fit for purpose to protect the future of football clubs in England.

For those of you not familiar with Wigan Athletic's current problems, very briefly, Wigan Athletic was sold by one offshore business to a second offshore business during June this year. Within days of acquiring the club, the new owners put it into administration resulting in a 12 point EFL penalty and ultimately relegation from the Championship.

The club was well managed, did not have any outstanding bills, there was no notice or rumour that this was going to happen and currently no sensible explanation why this was done so quickly. However, the new owners had been approved by the EFL.

Subsequently, many people have lost their jobs, charitable projects have ceased, fantastic work within schools and the local area has been adversely affected and the whole community is in a state of shock and devastation. The club is having to sell players to pay wages and bills and even if we survive and win our appeal against the 12 point penalty, it is very likely that our current squad will be decimated.

If this can happen to Wigan Athletic, it can happen to any club.

In recent times we have seen other Football League clubs suffer similar problems, some even go out of business altogether (eg Bury) and each time the EFL states that we must learn lessons......... but nothing ever changes.

Wigan fans feel this is now a watershed moment. Many clubs are likely to experience serious financial problems due to the effects of the Covid 19 crisis. We need a governing body that will look after and protect its members in the best possible way, starting with the Fit and Proper Owners review.

If you feel you would like to support our cause then please follow the link below and sign the petition.

This is not about getting Wigan's 12 point penalty removed, it is about demanding the EFL take responsibility and become accountable for their actions.

Thanks for your time.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331589
Click to expand...

Just had a long chat with a work colleague who is a long time Wigan season tkt holder.
Interesting about a £24 million loan (un-needed and un-asked for) that the new owner imposed on the club along with extortionate interest rates, interest doubtless to be paid to another concern of his or his associates.
All part of the ripping off process.

And also the strong rumours of a large mult million bet (in the Philippines?) which needs Wigan to be relegated (and if a true rumour then bet presumably placed mid season when relegation looked likely for Wigan, then team ruined the bet by safely escaping).
 
Stan_disher said:
Good afternoon all, Wigan fan here.

The reason for my post is to make you aware of a petition, started by Wigan fans, to get the EFL Fit and Proper Owners Process debated in parliament with the hope that the EFL will be forced to review, revamp and make it fit for purpose to protect the future of football clubs in England.

For those of you not familiar with Wigan Athletic's current problems, very briefly, Wigan Athletic was sold by one offshore business to a second offshore business during June this year. Within days of acquiring the club, the new owners put it into administration resulting in a 12 point EFL penalty and ultimately relegation from the Championship.

The club was well managed, did not have any outstanding bills, there was no notice or rumour that this was going to happen and currently no sensible explanation why this was done so quickly. However, the new owners had been approved by the EFL.

Subsequently, many people have lost their jobs, charitable projects have ceased, fantastic work within schools and the local area has been adversely affected and the whole community is in a state of shock and devastation. The club is having to sell players to pay wages and bills and even if we survive and win our appeal against the 12 point penalty, it is very likely that our current squad will be decimated.

If this can happen to Wigan Athletic, it can happen to any club.

In recent times we have seen other Football League clubs suffer similar problems, some even go out of business altogether (eg Bury) and each time the EFL states that we must learn lessons......... but nothing ever changes.

Wigan fans feel this is now a watershed moment. Many clubs are likely to experience serious financial problems due to the effects of the Covid 19 crisis. We need a governing body that will look after and protect its members in the best possible way, starting with the Fit and Proper Owners review.

If you feel you would like to support our cause then please follow the link below and sign the petition.

This is not about getting Wigan's 12 point penalty removed, it is about demanding the EFL take responsibility and become accountable for their actions.

Thanks for your time.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331589
Click to expand...

All signed and I wish you every success.

However, I have always had problems with the law clashing with a fit and proper person test. My reasons are that anyone, more or less can buy a company, providing they strike the right deal with the previous incumbent. Once that is done I think the footballing powers that be are not lawfully in a position to do anything. And that, I feel is the problem. Maybe the law needs to be changed around ownership of sporting institutions, like football clubs and those in other sports, to allow the change to only take place once the correct checks have been made. Then of course, if something was to become amiss, the authorities could potentially be held accountable.
It pains me to sympathise with the footballing authorities, but in instances like this I feel they have their hands tied to a degree and the regulations / laws need tightening.
 
S6Ian said:
All signed and I wish you every success.

However, I have always had problems with the law clashing with a fit and proper person test. My reasons are that anyone, more or less can buy a company, providing they strike the right deal with the previous incumbent. Once that is done I think the footballing powers that be are not lawfully in a position to do anything. And that, I feel is the problem. Maybe the law needs to be changed around ownership of sporting institutions, like football clubs and those in other sports, to allow the change to only take place once the correct checks have been made. Then of course, if something was to become amiss, the authorities could potentially be held accountable.
It pains me to sympathise with the footballing authorities, but in instances like this I feel they have their hands tied to a degree and the regulations / laws need tightening.
Click to expand...

I think you have some valid points, there.
 
S6Ian said:
All signed and I wish you every success.

However, I have always had problems with the law clashing with a fit and proper person test. My reasons are that anyone, more or less can buy a company, providing they strike the right deal with the previous incumbent. Once that is done I think the footballing powers that be are not lawfully in a position to do anything. And that, I feel is the problem. Maybe the law needs to be changed around ownership of sporting institutions, like football clubs and those in other sports, to allow the change to only take place once the correct checks have been made. Then of course, if something was to become amiss, the authorities could potentially be held accountable.
It pains me to sympathise with the footballing authorities, but in instances like this I feel they have their hands tied to a degree and the regulations / laws need tightening.
Click to expand...

Very good points.
Little can really be done about private owners of businesses selling their business to other private owners.

However, what can be done is for a league, in this case, the EFL, to have membership rules in place that will enable the league to exclude any members that breach those rules, and rules on dodgy owners is one area that needs addressing. Very difficult to write watertight rules given the shenanigans that dodgy owners can get up to with shares who knows where.
But something better needs to be tried.
 
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