Too little too late?

Ingster · Senior First Team regular Joined: 20 Aug 2002 Posts: 611

FIT AND PROPER PERSONS
From www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk

The English Football League has introduced the first 'Fit and Proper
Persons' test for club directors in the history of English professional
football. The ground-breaking decision was unanimously taken by clubs
at The League's AGM in Chester and represents a further stride forward by The League in its desire to promote good governance and transparency in the game.

The new rules will make it a breach of English Football League
regulations for the following to be a director or hold a majority interest in a Football League club:

Anyone subject to a ban from a Sports Governing Body relating to the
administration of that sport.

Anyone with an unspent conviction relating to fraud or dishonesty.

Anyone that is disqualified from acting as a director of a UK
registered company.

Anyone currently subject to a Bankruptcy Order.

Anyone who has been a director of a club that has been in
administration twice during a five-year period or a director of two different clubs that have each gone into administration in a five-year period.

All current League club directors will provide The League with a
declaration by July 31 indicating that they meet the above criteria and as such are a fit and proper person to hold office at a League club. All new
directors will have to sign a similar declaration on appointment.

Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney said: "In the last twelve
months The Football League has made considerable progress in terms of
bringing new standards of corporate governance to football. I believe
this is perhaps the most progressive and important step taken to date. Too many times in recent history we have seen the good work of the vast majority of club directors being tarnished by a handful of rogue individuals. This has negative consequences for The League as a whole and it is not acceptable. I am delighted that club chairmen have taken this brave decision and that The Football League continues to take the lead in these vital football areas."