July 2023
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on key issues for football in England, looking at next steps for governance and creating a sustainable future at all levels of the football pyramid, as well as priorities for supporting the women’s game.
With the agenda including a keynote session with Ben Dean, Director, Sport and Gambling, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, delegates examined progress and priorities moving forward following A sustainable future - reforming club football governance, the DCMS White Paper published in response to the Fan-Led Review of Football that took place in 2022.
Sessions examined key issues, alongside proposals outlined in the White Paper, their implications, and how they could be achieved, including:
- options for an independent regulator, and creating a financially sustainable future for football in the UK
- strengthening the Owners’ and Directors’ Test
- protection of club heritage and giving supporters a voice
The conference was also a timely opportunity to consider recent developments in the Government’s ongoing Future of Women's Football review, including the potential for growth, building financial sustainability of the game, and its structure going forward.
Sessions in the agenda included:
- key issues: the changing landscape for football - consumer trends - maintaining the attraction of global audiences to English football - the future for the structure of the professional game
- an independent regulator: introduction, remit and priorities - options for intervention - approving ownership - giving the fans a voice - promoting a sustainable future for football
- the football pyramid: priorities for support at all levels of the game - distribution of income - protecting club heritage - the role of football in local economies
- welfare in football: health and safety - duty of care - tackling online abuse - supporting players leaving the game
- women’s football: progress with the independent review - support priorities - opportunities for expansion - taking advantage of incoming revenue - creating a sustainable future
- policy: priorities for the future of English football
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the DCMS; GLD; Ofcom; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government, as well as parliamentary pass-holders from The House of Lords.
