English Football Financial Sustainability 2024-10-17
2024-10-17
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the concern about financial mismanagement in football clubs, particularly highlighting Reading FC's situation where they narrowly avoided relegation.
What steps she is taking to support the financial sustainability of English football. My constituency is home to Reading FC which managed to stay up last season despite significant challenges due to financial mismanagement by owners. We urgently need the Government's football governance Bill to protect clubs like Reading from future abuses. Will the Minister meet local fans and me to discuss protective measures?
The Sports Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley South (Stephanie Peacock), will be delighted to meet local fans and discuss protective measures for Reading FC. We recognize that when a football club faces threats from mismanagement or poor ownership, it impacts generations of fans deeply connected to their civic heritage. The government is committed to introducing the football governance Bill without delay to ensure robust protections are in place.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a commitment to meet and discuss protective measures specifically related to Reading FC, but no firm meeting schedule or concrete plan was provided beyond general statements of intent.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Building on the previous discussion, there is a need for legislative measures to protect football clubs from financial mismanagement. The questioner seeks assurances about concrete steps towards introducing such legislation.
I associate myself with that tribute and thank the Secretary of State for her reply. My constituency hosts Reading FC, which narrowly avoided relegation due to poor management by absent owners. We urgently need a regulator as proposed in the football governance Bill to prevent future abuses against clubs like Reading. Will the Minister meet local fans and me to discuss how we can safeguard the club?
The Sports Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley South (Stephanie Peacock), will be delighted to meet local fans and discuss how we can introduce robust protections for clubs like Reading FC under our proposed football governance Bill.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a concrete commitment regarding the specific meeting schedule and protective measures, but only general assurances were provided without firm timelines or details on upcoming actions.
Response accuracy