The Crouch Report: What you might have missed

Adam Harwood, Fair Game’s Blogs Editor, takes a deeper look at Tracey Crouch’s 162-page Fan-Led Review

THE review of football governance conducted by Tracey Crouch MP has captured the attention of football fans nationwide. And Fair Game isn’t alone in heralding the review’s key headlines.

The introduction of an independent regulator, a new test for owners and directors, and proper fan engagement have all been at the heart of what Fair Game has called for all year; while the 10% levy on transfers between Premier League clubs and overseas clubs could be transformational – provided this doesn’t lead to an acceleration of the ability for top clubs to snap up youngsters for a fraction of their worth.

But behind the headlines, what else featured in the Crouch report? What aspects, while not being covered so widely, could also have an impact on the national game – and are they positives to be applauded just as loudly?

Fair Game has taken an in-depth look at the report, so you don’t have to. Here’s some of the things that you may have missed.

1.    Split in Owners and Directors tests – but integrity at the core

While the much derided Owners and Directors test will be no more under the scheme, the updated version – split into two – will nonetheless require each applicant, on both sides of the management divide, to pass an Integrity Test. The report doesn’t say what exactly the test is going to include and whether it simply is a rubberstamping exercise or something more critically examining. But it’s a start. The test promises to ‘subject applicants to more scrutiny than has been applied in the past’. The word ‘integrity’ only appears eight times in the 339 page Premier League Handbook, and not once in the Owners and Directors Test section.

2.    The Golden Share

Special shares entitled ‘Golden Shares’ are one of the more intriguing areas of the report. These would be held by democratically run Community Benefit Societies, formed under the Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, for the benefit of the club’s supporters. For any fans worrying about whether there’d even be an appetite for such a glamorously titled society, they can be rest assured that existing Supporters’ Trusts will usually fulfil the needed requirements. Given what has happened in football in the past, in particular the Wimbledon FC move to Milton Keynes, it is pleasing to hear that the Golden Shareholder would need to consent to certain club actions including selling the club stadium or permanently relocating it.

3.    Reformation of parachute payments

Again something that has dominated Fair Game’s calls, it was therefore pleasing to see that parachute payments needs severe reformation and compromises made by both sides. Given that the Premier League and EFL are already engaging on parachute payments, the review suggested that this engagement can continue at least until the end of the year. Failure to find a solution directly could lead to external advisers providing it for the leagues.

4.    Return of terrace drinking?

Given potential benefits at the lower league levels in particular, where ticket prices are lower and not making up for player salaries, a possible amend may be made to the long standing ban on alcohol drinking on the terraces, something that has been in place for over 35 years. A pilot scheme at League Two and National League level would likely kick this off. While not a major part of the review, there’ll be (literal) cheers and fears about this notion in relatively equal proportion.