Episode 20: Will the sale of Morecambe FC be completed?
While Morecambe have recently been to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the FA Cup, and moved into a new stadium in 2010, there have been frustrations and protests at the club. The current owners are struggling to finalise a sale, a situation that has lasted two-and-a-half years so far.Profits generated by the club in some recent seasons have since been cancelled out by losses, highlighting how difficult it is for clubs in League One and League Two to remain sustainable.We discuss the club's present situation, fighting relegation from the Football League, the potential difficulties to challenge for promotion from the National League, and the future with:Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale,James Wakefield, one of the directors of Morecambe Football Club,Dave Salmon, commentator on Morecambe matches for 'Shrimps Live',and Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game.Follow Fair Game on X (yes, we still call it Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.And remember, you can register for the Fair Game Annual Conference 2025, which takes place 28-29 May at AFC Wimbledon.
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Episode 19: The impact of the financial problems at Bolton Wanderers and Bury
In this episode, we hear the emotional stories of Bolton Wanderers and Bury, clubs that have both suffered financial problems over the past ten years.Our guests are:Yasmin Qureshi MP for Bolton South,James Frith MP for Bury North,Author and journalist David Conn,Martin Parnell from the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust,Mo Dickson, a member of the heritage committee at Bury AFC,and Fair Game CEO Niall Couper.David Conn reminds us that the founders of the Football League were concerned that clubs in the big cities would have a financial advantage, so the competition was set up on the principle of shared gate receipts, and that principle was in place for nearly 100 years, up to 1983.Follow Fair Game on X (yes, we still call it Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.And remember, you can register for the Fair Game Annual Conference 2025, which takes place 28-29 May at AFC Wimbledon.
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Episode 18: The Uncertain Future of Reading
Just 12 years after playing in the Premier League, Reading are in League One, attendances are falling and the latest financial figures showed a loss of over £17m for the 2021/22 season. The club has had problems paying staff on time in recent seasons, and there have been points deductions, fines and transfer bans. So far, all attempts to buy the club from Dai Yongge have fallen through.Our guests joining Graham Miller on this episode are Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, Sarah Turner, chair of STAR, Supporters Trust at Reading, James Earnshaw, sports reporter for the Reading Chronicle and John Mayes, the chair of Fair Game.Follow Fair Game on X (yes, we still call it Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
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42:59
Episode 17: A Crucial Week For Football
The Football Governance Bill is about to be debated in the House of Lords, with speeches to be made and amendments suggested.In this episode, Graham Miller is joined by David Bernstein, the former chairman of Manchester City, the Football Association, and the current chairman of Wembley Stadium Limited, and Fair Game CEO, Niall Couper.The Bill will have huge consequences for all clubs in the pyramid and even small changes this week could have a massive impact.Follow Fair Game on X (yes, we still call it Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
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Episode 16: Question Time - Football Special
Exactly one week before the 2024 General Election, Fair Game brings together a Question Time-style panel to discuss the future of football:- Clive Betts (Labour), former chair of the all-party Parliamentary Football Group, and member of the Football Supporters' Association.- Paul Athans (Conservative), Everton season ticket holder.- Dominic, Lord Addington (Liberal Democrats), previously sat on the National Plan for Sport and Recreation Committee.- Dr Christina Philipou, one of the country's leading experts on footballing finance and a senior lecturer at Portsmouth University.The new Government will probably have a closer relationship to football than any before if the Football Governance Bill is enacted and the panel takes questions from some invited guests.You can watch a re-run of the full live video version of the debate on YouTube.Follow Fair Game on X (yes, we still call it Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
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