Andrew Bridgen asks the Government how the independent regulator will ensure the financial sustainability of football clubs and limit the power of owners who may wish to gamble with their club’s future to reach the premier league, and may fail, as was the case recently with Derby County.
Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Ind)
Can the Secretary of State outline to the House how the independent regulator will help with the financial sustainability of clubs, and how it will limit the power of owners, who may wish to gamble with their club’s future to reach the premier league and may fail, as was the case recently with Derby County?
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lucy Frazer)
The hon. Member makes an important point. Financial stability is one reason that we have brought in an independent regulator: to ensure that clubs are stable and are not destroyed, which then destroys communities, as I mentioned. The independent regulator will ensure financial stability and there will be owners’ and directors’ tests to ensure that we know who owns clubs and that they have the funds to maintain them.