LONDON: English football fans could have a greater say in the running of their clubs, under plans proposed by the opposition Labour Party.

Supporters would have seats on every board and the right to buy a significant slice of a club’s shares when its ownership changes.

Labour, according to a BBC report, says it would be “the biggest legislative shake-up in the governance of English and Welsh football clubs since the advent of the game.”

Only 14 league clubs currently have fan representatives on their board.

Swansea City are the only Premier League outfit among the 14, with the Swansea City Supporters Trust owning 20pc of the club.

But if Labour wins next year’s General Election, fans’ trusts could be able to appoint and remove up to a quarter – and no fewer than two – of a club’s directors.

Supporters would not be able to block takeovers or change corporate strategy but could obtain financial and commercial information about the club.

Fans could also purchase up to 10pc of the shares when a club changes ownership. The buyer acquiring control – defined as 30pc – would have to offer the trust up to a tenth of the shares they were purchasing for 240 days following the deal.

This option would be capped once a trust had acquired 10pc of the club’s shares, though that would not prevent it from buying more shares if it wanted.

The Government this week revealed plans for the establishment of an ‘Expert Group’ of football administrators, providing a platform for issues that affect fans.

Sports Minister Helen Grant MP told BBC Sport she was “concerned and cross” about the rising cost of ticket prices.

This followed a major BBC survey showing that ticket price rises had far outstripped the cost of living.

###############