The chief executive of Fair Game, a coalition of 25 clubs ranging from the Championship to non-league, expects several more teams to commit to the group in the next 24 hours following the launch of their manifesto yesterday.
Niall Couper said that three or four teams are close to joining following discussions and is calling on a Premier League team to be brave by adding their name.
Preliminary talks with a couple of top-flight clubs have taken place and Couper said that it would not only be in the best interests of supporters of those clubs but also offer an excellent PR move for the first to join.
“They know how to find us, our details are on the website and I’m easy to get a hold of,” Couper said. “I do think it will require bravery from them but they should look at it as a PR opportunity, a chance to say that they do care when 90% of supporters agree with this.”
Fair Game launched a comprehensive document outlining solutions to problems across the game at Plough Lane, following six months of work that involved dozens of experts providing advice in addition to the support of several high-profile politicians including Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Among the primary suggestions in the manifesto is the creation of an independent regulator, appointed by the government and led by legislation.
The group aims to have as many conversations as possible with Tracey Crouch, the former sports minister, who is overseeing the government’s fan-led review into football governance, before her report is published at the end of next month.
Crouch’s interim findings recommended an independent regulator but that is likely to receive severe pushback from the country’s biggest clubs. The group has worked closely with the EFL and has held some talks with the FA.
Fair Game is also proposing the introduction of a salary cap in all divisions and the redistribution of parachute payments that would see an increased percentage of the Premier League’s wealth filter down the pyramid.
The full manifesto can be read here.
