Henry Winter claims that West Ham is one of the Premier League teams who will have a “painful day” on Tuesday due to happenings in Parliament.
The independent regulator will be getting closer with the Westminster debate of the Football Governance Bill the next day, according to a Times journalist who reported on Twitter on March 18. Talks have already been held with KCs to become the eventual regulator.
The Irons were allegedly among the ten clubs that brought down the Premier League’s “New Deal” for EFL funding [Daily Mail, March 12]. Winter claimed that it was “crucial” that “selfish” owners in the top flight be challenged by a formidable KC, with the competitors being described as “ferociously bright and tough.”
Winter stated: “Those Premier League clubs who are delaying the EFL clubs’ “New Deal” are going to have a rough day tomorrow as the independent regulator gets closer due to events in Parliament.” It is essential that a powerful KC be appointed as regulator in the end to oppose self-centered owners.
“To safeguard clubs as essential community assets, a Football Governance Bill is being presented for parliamentary debate.” The bill’s main points of emphasis are “financial resources, suitable owners, fan interests & approved competitions.” While having a strong independent mind and abilities, the regulator will cooperate with FA, PL, EFL, and so forth.
“Discussions have already begun with possible applicants for the position of independent regulator. The KCs that are rumored to be candidates are fiercely intelligent and resilient, and they will have to be. The most self-centered Premier League teams and certain renegade EFL owners are formidable rivals.
Independent regulator set to move step closer after West Ham and others block EFL deal?
Last week, the anticipated deal between the Premier League and the lower echelons of the pyramid collapsed like a lead balloon in many areas [Stan Collymore, 12 March].
If the same executives who were behind it are also the ones who resent the idea of being governed by a regulator then it seems incredibly short-sighted.
No team will particularly relish giving away big sums of money to people who want to be their competitors, but in the recent past, many of those involved—including the Hammers—were on the opposing side of the divide.
Many legitimate worries exist regarding the superiority of any government-instituted system over the current self-governance system, and much will depend on which of the “ferociously bright and tough” possibilities is chosen in the event that the law is approved.
Even while the possibility of a violation under the new spending regulations and problems in a new age under a regulator would be a bad development for everyone, David Sullivan and the rest of the Hammers board are undoubtedly more concerned about the events in parliament than the West Ham supporters are.
However, the club’s role in the funding deal’s collapse, which led to accusations that they were among the ringleaders, hasn’t exactly helped their reputation.
