Club Statement | Government White Paper
On the day of the publication of the Government’s White Paper on Football Governance, Argyle joins with the wider EFL in welcoming further discussion about the future of our game.
The club considers the Fan Led Review to have been a step forward. As a transparent and values-led club that seeks to be financially and environmentally sustainable, we look forward to playing our role in the evolution of a more equitable game.
Our fans are at the centre of what we do, and that was never more apparent than the period of time in which fixtures were played behind closed doors.
The White Paper and subsequent discussions provide an opportunity to make important progress on key issues such as regulation and, critically, the distribution of revenues - focused on ensuring that the football pyramid at all levels can thrive. We look forward to analysing the White Paper in its entirety and will represent the views of our fans and the wider community in subsequent discussions.
Argyle’s progressive and pioneering approach to football governance has been highlighted in the ‘Fan Led Review of Football Governance’ in November 2021, where the club’s transparent approach to communicating financial information was praised, and in Thursday’s White Paper release, which carries comment from CEO Andrew Parkinson among a select few football club executives.
The club will continue to play as active a role as possible in these discussions, guided by the views of our supporters and our Vision and Values.
EFL statement follows.
EFL STATEMENT: FAN LED REVIEW WHITE PAPER
The EFL has been clear that the English game needs a fundamental financial reset in order make the game sustainable so that all Clubs can continue to serve their supporters and communities long into the future.
After an extensive period of consultation, the EFL is therefore pleased to note that the Government’s announcement regarding an Independent Regulator proposes to “oversee the financial sustainability of the game” and we welcome that a Regulator will have “targeted powers of last resort to intervene and facilitate an agreement as and when necessary”, should football be unable to find a funding agreement that safeguards the future of our pyramid for the long term.
Going hand-in-hand with financial reform, the League is supportive of proposals relating to enhanced regulation and looks forward to consulting with Government on matters including Club Licensing, the Owners and Directors Test and heritage protection in the period ahead.
A landmark moment for the future of our game, we now await to review the White Paper in its entirety and will consider our position in full. The Fan Led Review White Paper represents a once in a generation opportunity that must be seized to address the systemic issues that football has been unable to sort itself over the last 30 years.
