The EFL has today issued a number of statements following its Owners’ and Executives’ Conference.
Four statements have been issued in total, covering the Football Governance Bill, Regulation Changes, Financial Controls and New Board Appointments.
EFL Statement: Football Governance Bill
At its summer meeting EFL clubs were provided with a comprehensive update on the status of the Football Governance Bill after its progress in Parliament was halted following the announcement of next month’s General Election.
Given the enthusiastic level of cross-party support prior to Parliament falling, the League is calling on all political parties to commit to a continuation of the Bill within their manifestos when they are published.
EFL Chair Rick Parry said: “We stand ready to work with the new Government to ensure the Bill is re-introduced and progressed as quickly as possible in the new Parliament. It was disappointing it was lost because of the election; however, it is critical that this is only a short delay as the underlying systemic issues remain.
“We believe there is a timely opportunity for the incoming Government to take positive and decisive action to ensure that football has a financially sustainable future due to the importance professional clubs are to their communities and the people they serve.”
EFL Statement: Regulation Changes – Summer 2024
At today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), EFL clubs voted to approve several changes to the EFL Regulations which will come into effect immediately. These include:
Facilities For Disabled Supporters
A new regulation has come into effect requiring disabled supporters with general admission tickets to be situated with fellow Away Club supporters. Previously this has not been the case in all circumstances and clubs have agreed all away supporters should be provided with the opportunity to be sat with one another.
Fan Engagement Plan
The EFL has updated and added new Regulations to require clubs to produce and deliver a Fan Engagement Plan (FEP) from season 2024/25. Clubs will be required to publish a FEP on an annual basis which will be overseen by a senior club official.This requirement builds on the work clubs are already undertaking with supporters including hosting two meetings or fan forums each season to get their views on key issues faced by club.
Club Community Organisations
The League has introduced a new regulation which now requires clubs to either have or establish a Club Community Organisation (CCO) to support the objectives of the club in delivering community sports education and charitable activity. Previously there was no such arrangement in place and whilst clubs have been supporting their communities through their Club Community Organisations for many years, this now formalises the position. In addition, clubs and the CCO must now have a legally binding service level agreement (SLA) that meets the requirements of guidance provided by the EFL and EFL in the Community. It also requires the club to procure the CCO’s compliance with the SLA.
EFL Statement: Financial Controls
League One and Two
At a combined divisional meeting today, Leagues One and Two agreed to revise and update their set of Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) rules.
There was a unanimous acknowledgment amongst clubs that there is an immediate and acute need for reform in order to stem the rising losses facing both divisions, currently averaging £5m per club in League One and £1.5m in League Two.
Clubs are committed to implementing change and will consider the issue over the course of the close season.
Championship
Separately, in the Championship, clubs have also committed to change and agreed in principle to target the end of the calendar year to determine how future cost controls in the division will work.
Clubs will now consider multiple options to enhance or replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (P&S) via a new working party that will represent the views of all 24 clubs before deciding on the most appropriate direction of travel.
EFL Statement: New Board Appointments Confirmed At EFL Owners’ And Executives’ Conference
Lincoln City’s Liam Scully and Exeter City’s Julian Tagg have been elected to the EFL Board as the new League One representatives.
This follows the departures of Jez Moxey, who has left his position on the Board at Burton Albion, and Fleetwood Town’s Steven Curwood following the club’s relegation from League One.
Scully is the Chief Executive at Lincoln City as well as serving as the Chair of the EFL Trust, whilst Tagg is the Club President and Director of External Affairs at Exeter City and has previously served on the EFL Board as an alternate Director.
In addition, Hull City Vice Chairman, Tan Kesler has joined the Board as a Championship representative, replacing former Millwall Chief Executive, Steve Kavanagh, who left his position last month.
Kesler joins Preston North End Director, Peter Ridsdale and Middlesbrough Chief Executive, Neil Bausor who have both been re-appointed to serve a further three-year term.
The League Two representative on the EFL Board remains Crewe Alexandra Chair, Charles Grant following his appointment in 2023, alongside Independent Non-Executive Directors, Caroline Artis and Justine Roberts CBE, CEO Trevor Birch and Chair, Rick Parry.
