POLL SHOWS HUGE SUPPORT FOR FANS FIRST CAMPAIGN
A poll released by Green MSPs shows overwhelming public support for their 'right to buy' proposals for fan ownership of football clubs.
Of those that had a view, 87% of those polled would support fan trusts having right of first refusal if their club came up for sale, or when it went into administration. 72% would support a right to buy your local club for a market value at any point.*
Alison Johnstone will lead a debate at Holyrood later this afternoon on community ownership of football, which comes on the back of the successful Hearts deal last week.
The Green's 'Fans First' campaign will encourage fans to register their support at www.www.scottishgreens.org.uk/put-fans-first/ and to tweet @putfansfirst
More details of the proposals can be found in their submission to the Community Empowerment Bill.
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian said:
"Fan ownership is a model with huge potential to secure a stronger future for Scottish clubs, and I'm pleased to see that there is huge public support for our proposals. The Scottish Government must act sooner rather than later to find ways to make the route to fan ownership an easier process.
"In many communities it's our football clubs that bind a place together, which is why fans deserve every opportunity to shape their future. I urge all those who want to see a better future for Scottish football to sign up to our Fans First campaign and make their views known."
*Survation poll conducted between 11-15 April.
A number of clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League have recently been purchased by their fans. Many other clubs face financial difficulties. In Scotland, there are already laws that give communities the first right to buy land in their area in certain circumstances, and it has been proposed that these rights should be extended to give football fans' trusts the right to buy their clubs.
Which of these measures would you support?
- Fans' trusts to have first refusal (i e being given the first chance to make an offer) when their clubs are sold
- Fans' trusts to have first refusal if their clubs go into administration
- Fans to have the right to buy their clubs for a market value at any time
Full results available here