The following is a letter sent to a Coventry City supporter from the Department Of Media, Culture and Sport.
Thank you for your letter regarding Coventry City FC.
We are sorry that the supporters of Coventry City FC have had to face such turmoil in off
field dealings at their club over recent seasons, which, ultimately, will have an affect
throughout the Club, including performances on the pitch.
Although, as I am sure you will understand, the Minister cannot comment on the specific
points raised, the Government is concerned about instances of general financial
mismanagement, and lack of transparency in ownership, and has been urging the football
authorities to make changes to address these. The Government recognise that football
governance needs reforming and, whilst the Government has urged the football authorities
to take ownership of the governance of the game, they will look at bringing forward
legislation, if football does not make sufficient progress.
The Government welcomes the recent report from the Select Committee on football
governance which shows the will there is across Parliament for football to modernise and
change for the better. Ministers have been clear that they want the football authorities to
carry out the reforms they promised by the start of the 2013-14 season - most notably
around improved governance and diverse representation at the FA, the development of a
licensing system and greater financial transparency.
It is hoped that the FA''s proposed licensing system will address concerns around financial
Sustainability, ownership of clubs and supporter interests. There are a number of other
recent developments which will help with progress on this subject. These include the FA's,
enhanced ''Owners'' and Directors'' Test'', and professional football''s move towards adopting
the Financial Fair Play rules, which require football clubs, among other things, to introduce
more discipline and rationality in club football finances and to encourage clubs to compete
within their revenues.
The Minister continues to monitor this situation closely. Now that the Select Committee has
concluded its deliberations, the Department is currently considering their report and will respond in due course.
Yours Sincerely
Ministerial Response Team
Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Source: Coventry MAD
Source: FOOTYMAD
