What is "Fit and Proper" for Football?

Of the 20 Premier League clubs, 10 have changed ownership in the last four years - the majority of those within the last 12 months - and another two are likely to be under new ownership in the next 12 months. There seems to have been very little constructive debate as to what the consequences are for the competition within the Premiership and English football in general. What little there has been seems to focus on the xenophobic aspects given that nine of those clubs are now under foreign ownership. It seems to centre on cultural and emotional aspects rather than asking more relevant questions such as the impact on English football as a whole.

The FA are supposed to have tests in place rating suitability to be an owner of a football club. These tests appear to allow takeovers:

1. Where money used has been sourced through illegal activities (allegedly);



2. By people wanted for criminal activity in their native countries;



3. By people who have been identified as abusers of human rights by official agencies;



4. Where previously financially secure clubs have been mortgaged against future revenue streams where ownership is effectively funded by the fans for the new owners.

Quite clearly the FA are either too lackadaisical or too incompetent to operate the so-called proper "tests". The day when the local pie manufacturer used to also own the local football club have gone. This new breed of owner operates on a totally different scale. Last week, it was announced that David Dein had sold his stake in Arsenal for £75 million. This for his stake which he bought for a reported £300,000 in the early 80's gives us a measure of that scale. This new breed is not going into ownership with the same expectations as the "old school". So what are they really after? Whatever it is, it will not be in the interests of genuine supporters. In addition it will undoubtedly have an impact on the true competitive nature of the premiership and beyond into the England set up and lower leagues.

What is required is a more cohesive response by supporters. Contrast the differing responses by Manchester United supporters in opposing their takeover, to the "welcome with open arms" by other clubs' supporters.

Like us, you may have noticed recently an increasing number of articles in the broadsheets where foreign owners have put their PR machine into operation and are actively stating their credentials as to why the fans should welcome them. They claim to love the passion of English supporters. They claim to have always followed English football and that they really are genuine fans of the sport. Or as one new owner put it : "I've always been a big fan of this franchise". The Premier League also back them up by claiming the game has never been healthier. But the truth of the matter is surely that if wealthy foreign owners really did have the supporters' interests at heart, they wouldn't need to make these claims because it would be obvious. But the fact that they feel the need to sport the club scarf to matches in a very open manner and the fact that they feel compelled to let us know constantly what huge fans of the game they are, leads us to believe we are being duped.

The perverse irony is that, in the short-term, it may lead to a break-up of the so-called big four club monopoly and a more open competition. However, that competition will be between clubs with rich owners while the rest are left to worry about relegation. Then the real agenda will emerge.

Reclaim the Game - The Week's Events

• Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was forced to finally call it a day this week. How refreshing, in this era, that a player stays 11 years at a club, even without being first choice for the majority of that time. He did his job and had the best "goals per minute on the field" record of any premiership striker. Shame that when he truly was first choice, replacing David Beckham in the 2003 championship team, he ran into his career ending injury phase.
• Brian Barwick, FA's CEO: " There aren't a lot of english players playing in the Premier League. That for us has to be a concern and an issue and in truth therefore it has to be an issue for every football fan in the country". Oh dear.... What the hell has the rest of the footballing community been saying for the last n years..? Well at least those that are in the position to do something about it, have finally realised that there is a problem. A step towards the solution?
• Everton football club whose ownership we don't have a lot of problem with in general, appear to be "spinning" their fans a yarn. The "overwhelming" support for a move from Goodison to Kirkby was in fact just under 42%. Nearly 31% voted against and another 27% chose to abstain to the question of 'Move to Kirkby or Extinction'. This must be the only time that Merseyside has adopted a Maggie Thatcher view of democracy.
• Further to our posting last Thursday regarding Platini's proposed reforms of the Champions League, we can state that some of our concerns were addressed (especially the rules regarding runners up etc.). It did, however, miss its main ideal which was to open out the competition to more of Europe. Note once again that there would have been no difference to England's qualifying clubs in the last 10 years. So no difference to the number of English teams and no difference to who they would have been. Very disappointing. And what the hell is the point of a Pre-qualifying Cup Winners Cup Champions League qualification anyway?

Hats Off, Take a Bow (or Not)!

Player of the Week: Ryan Babel. Torres took the plaudits but we think he was the man. Plus he scored the best goal even though the pundits blamed it on poor defending.

Hero(es) of the Week: The 27,000 Leeds fans who still turned out to watch in League 1 despite the enormous deficit they have to make up. Almost makes you want to start liking them!

Villain of the Week: I know what you're thinking. Because we saw him sneaking out early too when they were getting beaten! But, in fact, this has everything to do with him trying to engineer the transfer of Ronaldhino to Chelsea behind the back of his manager. Almost makes you want to feel sorry for Mourinho!

Shock of the Week: Emile Heskey's recall to the England squad. No not an issue of merit, more to do with the point of why we have friendlies. Did anyone spot Emile being tried out in the Germany game? And now Beckham is injured, what options do we have wide on the right?