politico

too right -but slowly fans are starting to wake up to the idea that if we can act together-rather than being totally tribal -then we can wake up the media and fa about the fact that many are being driven away from the game. Look out for the publicity around a new film by Ken Loach called looking for Eric-it deals with exactly this subject.

Delighted that in the first 48 hours we are up to 130 signatures-it is clear that football fans from near and far, feel things need to change. So please join this fledgling campaign and spread the word across football. Football fans message to the FA Petition Below are a selection of comments posted so far. ------------------------------------------------ About time we, as fans are united agianst the corruption and enemy of our beloved game. ------------------------------------------------ Something has got to be done. We need safe standing, if germany can do it why can't we. ------------------------------------------------- been waiting for sometin like this, lfc fan but feel so sorry for fans of southampton and others in administration why should they have to suffer cos of inept owners --------------------------------------------------- As custodians of the future of our game, the FA certainly needs to work with the PL and Football League to prevent the unchecked and disproportional costs of watching football at all levels in England, and of the levying of non-football related debt onto football clubs large and small. --------------------------------------------------- The current iniquities are destroying grass roots league football clubs, such as Luton, Southampton. Southampton's very successful academy has trained many top class footballers, but the benefits go to the rich clubs, not the clubs who invest and train the young talent, as used to happen. -------------------------------------------------- Love football, I want my kids to love it too! -------------------------------------------------- Its time the FA came to give something back to the fans who travel and go to football games around the country. You took Wembley from the fans because the fan now cannot get a ticket. The Champions League Final is another one. The fan cannot get a ticket. Although the clubs have been given 19,500 tickets each which is a disgrace. Half of those will not be on offer to even the season ticket holder. The fan is being priced out and football is not the game same it was only 15 years ago. --------------------------------------------------- Every effort by the English F.A. should to ensure the ordinary working people can afford to support their local team. Money should not be the only criteria used when a takeover of a club is being discussed. ----------------------------------------------- Good luck with this, I believe many right-minded football supporters feel exactly the same and would totally back such changes. Without supporters, there would be no football, perhaps the authorities should remember that.

Agree that it has little chance of changing the world tomorrow. But if people can get on board and spread the word then things can happen. I aim to put this petition on every footie forum in England and if we can start to get signers by the 1000's then maybe I can get the media interested-and if they get on board, then maybe just maybe the FA and all the rest might just sit up and take notice. Positivity-can't save the world but it can help. So get on board -spread it by forum-twitter-word of mouth whatever-if we just stay shtum -then they win!!!

Please have a look and spread the word! Football fans message to the FA Petition

If you are in BROAD agreement please sign and post on other forums. The Future direction of Football. So we end the 2008/2009 season much as we have the last few, with the usual suspects occupying the top table, some others looking on with envy and sadly a few are locked outside eagerly looking in, close to starvation. Most sports and businesses operate under the harsh but realistic Darwinism of survival of the fittest. So why should football be any different, let’s just leave it to the markets as it were, well surely the last few months must of taught us something about “the market”. There is something unique about local sporting institutions that the red braces of the City finds impossible to quantify, they are a vital part of our collective national psychological make up. They still help people to get up in the morning and carry out the normal functions of society. But if many supporters feel that there is no longer a local team that they feel a part of then we as a society have lost an important institution, the consequences of which are not good. The governing body in England, the FA seem to be constantly reacting to events in a totally dogmatic fashion, every time a league club finds it’s finances no longer hold up they simply slap on a ten point deduction. If individuals who run these clubs act like Arthur Daly and get caught, then rather than punishing the individual, the club is docked a further 10 or 20 points. We all realise that crimes need to be punished, but does it not make more sense to ensure that all owners and directors are properly scrutinised prior to their gaining a dominant position within a club. Once an owner and his director’s are in place the governing body should operate a transparent policy of monitoring the day to day activities of the club, and where needed investigating any allegations of malpractice on an ongoing basis. In other words the FA should properly fullfill it’s remit of actively governing the sport from top to bottom. A charter of corporate football governance needs to either be established or significantly strengthened if one already exists. Or else the long suffering fans will continue to feel alienated and cynical towards the power brokers of the game. If that link of trust is broken then it may never be repaired! I’am sure the FA will argue that this is what takes place now, but most fans feel that the only criteria required to sieze control and then operate a football club in England-is cash, either the new owners own, or far more likely –borrowed. Of course the favourite trick of the new breed of owners is to flip the debt from buying a club, back from the company that looked to buy it onto the club itself. This should be made illegal and shell parent companies must be liable to the same scrutiny as the football club itself. There is a sickness within the game that must be confronted, and soon, if whole swathes of the population are not to be lost to the game due to cynicism or finances. If football is to prosper then most or all of the following must happen very soon. 1. Club ownership-all football league clubs (steps1-4) to expand the supporters trust involvement leading to a 20% stake and board representation within 5 years. All owners to be assessed thoroughly by a new fit and proper panel at the FA that has the power to prosecute and fine improper owners personally. 2. Ticket prices to be regulated by the FA ensuring 40% are in one single lowest price category at all premiership grounds. 3. Significant increase in the trickle down of revenue from the premiership and European competitions to the lower leagues. To increase competition within the premiership and ensure the survival of the pyramid. 4. Maximum wage policy within each club, with a medium and lower band, ensuring squad wages never exceed 40% of turnover. 5. Establishment of singing/safestanding areas in all premiership grounds using existing seated areas with a light touch health and safety regime. 6. Implement the 6 and 5 policy so that every team has 6 players from the UK enhancing our national teams potential and encouraging purchase of players from lower leagues, as well as from other parts of the UK. 7 Further encouragement for 100% fan owned clubs that help to reposition clubs at the heart of local communities and bring in a new generation of fans. Politico

well 240 people have read it -and I hope most got past my poor grammar to understand the point being made. So 6 people having a go- is not too bad, thanks. Truth is the vast majority still have a "success at any price" attitude and ignore the bigger picture-but there you go.

Icebergs and lifeboats…………… a tale of our time. The great Liner coasted through the waves at full speed. There was little cause for concern for the Captain, his ship was built to be unsinkable and it was highly unlikely if not impossible to encounter icebergs this far south. The owners had several of these highly prestigious Liners in their fleet and they were the pride of the country, nothing could match their size and majesty, onward through the night they sailed. The captain received a telegram and had meetings with the owners, a new record was possible for the Liner, more passengers and prestige would follow, so although an Iceberg had been sighted earlier he gave the order for full steam ahead. The sense of invinceability that lay within the Captain transmitted through the crew to the First Class passengers the owners coveted. Meanwhile several decks below the poor souls in steerage were almost forgotten and ignored, they amused themselves and tried to convince each other all would be well, but the freezing, bitter grip of the icy north wind made everyone nervous. When the berg hit, at first the passengers believed and were told all was well, for obviously the ship was the pride of the line –nothing could harm it, let alone threaten it’s very existence. The were a small number of lifeboats and some who realised early that all was far from well reluctantly eased away from the mighty ship, but for many more on board the great liner this was a day that they believed could never, would never happen. Questions were asked-why was money, greed and prestige paramount. Who was in charge, were there not politicians, regulators who were supposed to oversee such things, why were the ordinary working people below decks not listened too-was it not their brethren who had built these ships in the first place-with their own sweat and blood. But although the toil was provided by the working man, they never had sight of the plans for that which they created. That was left to the so called clever people and financiers-the very people that had ignored all the warning signs and were now responsible for sending something great and cherished to the bottom of the ocean. Thank god some had read the signs early and built small but stable lifeboats, little consolation for many but a chance to rebuild, only this time on solid ideals where everyone was valued and all are equal. I dearly hope this analogy never comes to pass. Our football clubs are a deep integral part of our local and national character. The regulators at both National and International level along with the owners and financiers are playing Russian roulette with Clubs that give many millions there main focus of identity. These financiers in their glass towers cannot possibly predict the future world economy, but they leverage debt on that which we love and cherish. I hope those in charge feel the full weight of the responsibilty they carry-for one day they may well be held to account. Politico Affordable Football Alliance-just Google it!

I cannot stand the man-in fact even though I'am a manc and a red I would go so far as to say he's a cxxt. On the Glazers-I think you will find 2-3,000 long term reds like myself formed a footie team of our own and got on with it, you have one too-well done.

a good one here -off the afc forum ) Every premier league ground will be made to convert to all-hospitality box status, allowing 10% of the stadium to remain seated. Admission to premier league games will be based on wage income, with the 10% poorest allowed in the (uncovered) seating area for charitable reasons. All viewers will be issued day 'supporter' packs including foam hands and optional FC pet/life/home/independant thought insurance. I think games will be split into 4 quarters and between each interval, two randomly picked 'cheap seat' fans will be made to fight to the death in the centre circal for the entertainment of the corporate masses and will be analysed by a cyborg with the attatched head of the recently deceased Andy Gray. The clubs emporer (formerly owner) will give judgement on even bouts. Christians and people displaying 'passion' will be thrown to the bird-flu infested pelicans. Something along those lines...

It's a serious question-I know it is hard to predict LFC future due to uncertainty of owner, but do you think further foreign ownership will eventually bring in games played abroad, etc etc, Survey for the Affordable Football Alliance ta politico

shock -horror-I'am a manc, but a rebel red, and as such I fully support your march. These are the most interesting of times-so play your part.

In five years time a-Where do you think afc Liverpool will be. b-How will the premiership look and what will the fan experience be?

Most of you will of heard of these-but did you know there were another 8 fan owned clubs in England and Wales AFFORDABLE FOOTBALL ALLIANCE • View forum - Fan Owned and Non League chat Is this the start of a mini revolution-or has the tipping point for fans who are out priced not yet been reached

There is no need for funding -just 50 -so far like minded individuals registered and starting to post. Who the xxxx is that photo supposed to be-if its me thanks for the compliment I'am 46 !!!

The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend We all hold rivalries close to our heart-and long may this be so, but the world in general and football in particular has changed drastically. The very game we fell in love with all those years ago has been hijacked and sold off piece by piece to the highest bidder. If we can talk together, old rivals can work together and stand up for the game we love! So what can we do-well those who care and long for the fans to be put back at the heart of the game can either continue as they are, or you can step out of your comfort zone and join the Affordable Football Alliance- a new free forum- all that is required is a positive non confrontational attitude. As most forums understandably look dimly on spamming you can find the forum address either in my profile details or just google Affordable Football Alliance. We are very new so get in there early and share your views on the direction of the modern game, and what can be done to change the balance of power. The key difference on the AFA forum is that all fans from the height of the premierships to non league are welcome IF they come with a real burning desire to Reclaim the Game. The 5 simple aims are:- Support fans groups who seek to keep admission prices affordable. Encourage discussions and campaigns between different fans groups from Aberdeen to Brighton-Ipswich to Swansea –no more divide and conquer. Actively support efforts to establish singing sections and flag displays. Remind clubs that long term grass roots fans are more important than corporate customers. Support the idea that it is good for the game and not disloyal for fans of the larger clubs to perhaps support a non league or fan owned club close to home. This will help grow the grass roots that are at the heart of football.