Below is an article with reference to the work of PST Board Member Ashley Brown, exploring the journey towards an independent football regulator. From the lessons learned through his own experiences to the campaign for meaningful reform, it also looks at the role Ashley has played, and continues to play, in championing supporter representation, improving football governance and shaping the debate that led to the State of the Game report.
State of the Game – how did we come to this and the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator
Many of you will have seen the recent State of the Game report issued by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
Even a brief look at the headline findings makes for sobering reading about the financial health of our national game.
The report highlighted some eye-watering figures:
- 94% of clubs across the top five English divisions were making losses.
- English football generated more than £9 billion in revenue but recorded losses of approximately £1.7 billion.
- Nearly two-thirds of clubs in the English Football League (EFL) and National League were technically insolvent.
- More than a quarter of clubs could not survive for 30 days if their owners withdrew financial support.
Pompey supporters are more aware than most of the financial dangers that can threaten a football club. We know only too well how quickly things can change and how important sound financial management is to a club’s future.
The key question for us is: what does all this mean for Portsmouth Football Club? It’s certainly a question likely to come up at our forthcoming Q&A.
We’re fortunate that the PST Board includes two individuals, Ashley Brown and Simon Colebrook, both former Chairs of the PST, who remain heavily involved in supporter engagement across football.
Their work beyond the PST helps ensure that supporters’ voices are heard at the highest levels of the game. It also brings valuable experience, knowledge and connections back to our own board, helping us better understand the challenges facing football and the opportunities available to supporters. In this update, we focus on Ashley’s work, with Simon’s activities to follow in a future edition.
Following his time as Chair of the PST, during the period when supporters came together to help save Portsmouth Football Club, Ashley went on to become CEO of Supporters Direct. His appointment built on the experience he had gained through the Save Pompey campaign and his understanding of the vital role supporters play in protecting their clubs.
One of Ashley’s major areas of focus at Supporters Direct was football governance and financial sustainability. Supporters Direct subsequently merged with the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) to form the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), bringing together two organisations with a shared ambition to improve football for supporters.
The work on governance, finance and supporter representation continued to grow in importance. The original aim was to persuade the Football Association to take greater responsibility for the proper governance of professional football. When it became clear that this was unlikely to deliver the necessary changes, attention turned towards Government.
Working alongside many of the same people, Ashley played a leading role in the FSA’s written and verbal evidence to the Government’s Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, as well as attending numerous other evidence sessions as an observer.
The FSA’s evidence covered a wide range of issues, but its central message was clear: no more football clubs should be lost, and supporters should not have to live with the constant fear of losing their clubs.
Achieving these required meaningful improvements in football’s financial sustainability, stronger governance and stricter, more effective supporter engagement. Over several years, the work involved submitting further evidence, responding to Government consultations and papers, and lobbying MPs and peers in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
That sustained effort ultimately contributed to the introduction of new legislation, which became law and led to the establishment of a shadow regulator ahead of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
Throughout this process, Ashley continued to work closely with those involved, seeking to help shape how the new regulatory system would operate, particularly in relation to supporter engagement.
That involvement has continued as the regulator has developed. Ashley’s current role includes acting as the FSA’s key contact on all matters relating to the Independent Football Regulator. This provides an important link between the regulator and the wider supporter movement.
The benefits are already becoming tangible. The FSA is helping supporter representatives who have concerns about their clubs and has facilitated meetings with the IFR team to ensure those concerns can be heard.
In addition, an IFR Fan Advisory Panel has been established, with Ashley serving as co-chair alongside David Bond of the IFR.
What Does This Mean for the PST and our Members
Ashley’s work gives the PST access to valuable insight into the changing regulatory landscape and the opportunities available to supporters to influence decisions about their clubs. Just as importantly, it helps ensure that supporters’ experiences and concerns remain part of the conversation as football governance evolves.
While this work takes place at a national level, its purpose is rooted in protecting individual clubs and the communities around them.
For the PST, having someone with Ashley’s experience, knowledge and established relationships involved at Board level is a significant asset. His insight is invaluable as we consider the financial challenges facing football and what they might mean for Pompey. He also provides a valuable insight into what is happening at clubs across the country and throughout the football pyramid, helping us understand the wider issues facing clubs and their supporters and bringing that knowledge back to benefit the PST and our members.
Ultimately, the stronger the voice of supporters across football, the better placed we are to protect our club and represent the interests of our members.
We all want the same thing: a successful, sustainable football club that can compete on the pitch without putting its long-term future at risk.