Asked by: Bob Ainsworth (Labour - Coventry North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to improve supporter involvement with football clubs.
Answered by Helen Grant
I continue to press the football authorities to better engage with their fans and have been encouraged by the introduction of a designated Supporter Liaison Officer into each of the Premier League and Football League clubs.
A proposal from Supporters Direct for an expert group on supporter ownership in football is under consideration by government and the football authorities, including terms of reference and timeframes of any resulting work in the area.
Asked by: Bob Ainsworth (Labour - Coventry North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Football League on Coventry City Football Club returning to play in Coventry.
Answered by Helen Grant
I meet regularly with the Football League to discuss a range of issues. I have met with the Members for Coventry North East, Coventry South and Kenilworth & Southam to learn more about the situation faced by Coventry FC, and have raised their specific concerns with the Football League in writing.Asked by: Bob Ainsworth (Labour - Coventry North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Lord Justice Hickinbottom's judgement in Sisu v. Coventry City Council, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to reform the Football Creditors' Rule.
Answered by Helen Grant
The football authorities have made significant moves over recent years to get clubs on a stronger financial footing, principally through the introduction of financial fair play rules, minimising the need for football to rely on the Football Creditors Rule in cases of club insolvencies. The Government keeps the situation under review.Asked by: Bob Ainsworth (Labour - Coventry North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications of Lord Justice Hickinbottom's judgement in Sisu v. Coventry City Council and others for football governance in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Following the judgement, I would urge all parties to focus on the most important issue of getting Coventry City back to playing it’s home matches in Coventry within the timescale set out in the Club’s membership agreement.