1. Developing Public Policy to Encourage Supporter Community Ownership in Football

“It is difficult to think of another social or cultural sector that has as wide a reach, as comprehensive coverage of the nation, as deep historical roots or as big a potential to deliver local social value as football.”

Published in May 2011, this paper takes the promise made in the coalition’s Programme for Government – to ‘…encourage the reform of football governance rules to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters’ – as its starting point.

There is a direct relationship between the stated objectives of the coalition Government and the aims of Supporters Direct. This paper offers some practical means by which Government policy can be implemented. Issues covered include: Supporters, Community and Local Social Value; existing Company Law; Community Asset legislation; UK Sports Law; the Localism Bill; and methods of financing supporter community ownership.

Briefing Paper 1