Burnley have criticised ‘weak governance’ of football as behind the new European Super League in an open letter to fans.
Penning an open letter to Clarets fans, Chairman – Alan Pace admitted that this ‘breakaway Super League should never have happened’ but iterated that ‘weak governance’ is to blame and has called for reforms across English and European football.
Turning his attention to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Pace accused those six clubs of turning away from their ‘moral duty’ to protecting the ‘spirit’ of football and specifically the English game.
Pace has therefore called on UK Prime Minister and Secretary of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden to follow through on ‘their welcome intervention’ and appoint an independent regulator to protect English football with proper legislation.
Given his experience, Pace in a rare move spoke candidly of understanding the ‘commercial considerations’ of all six clubs and appreciate ‘their frustration’ at driving revenue for UEFA competitions without receiving ‘same levels of influence and reward.’
Pace however was critical of this move coming at the cost of treating both fans and the sport’s history with ‘respect’ and has vowed to ensure the protection of football, describing the sport as ‘bigger than all of us’ and refuses to risk its future on ‘self-interest.’
Since ALK Capital took over the club in December with a 84% share stake, Burnley have developed ‘ambitious plans’ in order to grow their revenues but Pace iterated that those plans are based on performance on and off pitch instead of ‘artificial protectionism’ to prevent relegation.
Pace therefore has urged all chairmen to get out within ‘local communities’ of their clubs and get to ‘personally’ know and understand the local supporters, otherwise risk creating deeper divides between club boards and fans.
Noting the ‘contempt’ amongst fans, media, managers and players alike, Pace is pushing for legislation with a ‘strong regulator’ akin to OFCOM and feels ‘truly’ ashamed that the sport is in this mess.
Looking ahead, Pace feels that there is work to do in order to ‘bring people together and set the path forward for all and not just the few’, due to the responsibility towards those who have come before this generation and those yet to follow in the coming decades.