Football League and Football Association must share blame following collapse of League One club Bury
The English Football League must share the blame for the collapse of Bury, MPs have ruled in a letter attacking "failings at every level" of governance in the domestic game. Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital Culture Media and Sport Committee, says the league must apologise to supporters and make "reparations for associated loss of earnings" after failing on "multiple opportunities to intervene". The Football Association and the EFL have also been warned that the Government should step in unless new reforms – also covering the Premier League – are enforced.
Bury's EFL membership was withdrawn in August after owner Steve Dale was unable to provide financial sustainability guarantees, and a bid to have the club reinstated in League Two for the start of next season was rejected by the 71 members of the EFL at a clubs' meeting on September 26.
The committee of cross-party MPs heard evidence from the EFL's executive chair Debbie Jevans, the FA and Premier League two weeks ago and has now recommended:
A "supporters’ ombudsman to hear concerns about how clubs are being run"
A "reformed Owners’ and Directors’ Test would disqualify a buyer with record of corporate insolvency"
Banning clubs from borrowing against fixed assets such as stadium
A "formal and enforceable licensing system" for professional English football clubs The Government should introduce its own "legislation for independent system of football licensing and regulation" if the reforms are not implemented, Collins says.
In a letter sent to the EFL, the FA, Nigel Adams, the sports minister, and Jonathan Taylor QC, the barrister leading the EFL's independent governance review, Collins wrote: "The EFL was warned about the club's finances and ownership, and had multiple opportunities to intervene, but did not do so in an effective or timely enough way to prevent the club's problems from escalating. As such, we conclude that the EFL has failed in its duty to Bury FC and its supporters. We recommend that the EFL formally apologises to the club's staff and supporters and makes reparations for associated loss of earnings."
A winding-up petition against the club was adjourned last week until December 4, with plans already under way to form a "phoenix" club.
However, the committee is concerned that further clubs could suffer unless "decisive action" is taken and highlighted "structural failings" in the administration of clubs.
Collins added: "Systematic and structural problems are responsible for the tragic expulsion of Bury FC from the league this year. These failures were avoidable, and it is essential that the authorities urgently overhaul their framework if they wish to avoid the same fate befalling other clubs. We heard time and again that supporters felt powerless as they watched their beloved club suffer shocking mismanagement and financial misconduct.
"The authorities must learn to respect, and act upon, these concerns. If the reforms we recommend are not introduced forthwith, the only alternative is for the Government to step in." Greg Clarke, the FA chairman, and Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters also gave evidence to the committee last month.
Clarke claimed it was outside his organisation's remit to "interfere" in regulatory matters delegated to the EFL. However, committee member Ian Lucas MP said he was "stunned" that the guardian of the English game left it so late to get involved. "I'm amazed that Greg Clarke did not get involved until it left the Football League," he said afterwards.
The Forever Bury fans group previously used parliamentary privilege to name an alleged conflict of interest between two officials involved in the club's demise who had hidden their relationship as brothers-in-law.
