Government must take control of football, say Westminster hopefuls
The government should be given the power to regulate football clubs like Pompey whose finances spiral out of control, according to would-be MPs.
At an election meeting in the city last night all the leading contenders for the Portsmouth South seat agreed urgent action was needed to stop the nation's game from self-destructing.
The debate came just hours after it was revealed by Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou that the club's debts had soared from 74m to an eye-watering 119m.
The question was posed by David Acheson at the hustings organised by The News at the University of Portsmouth.
Both Green candidate Tim Dawes and Liberal Democrat Mike Hancock said powers should be given to the government to prevent clubs going into massive debt.
Mr Dawes said: 'Something very serious has gone on at Fratton Park and someone there should be brought to book.'
He said his party would introduce legislation which would give fans a legal right to seize control of an ailing club.
'There would be an opportunity for people who have a real stake in the business – the fans – to have a chance of taking over the club.'
Mr Hancock said it was 'vitally important' the government had the power to step in.
'The wrong people have got to the top in football and the government should have forced the Premier League to take action long ago.'
But Labour's John Ferrett said it would not be right to effectively nationalise the game. 'However, there should be a steer from the government to get the Premier League to put its house in order. It's the free market gone mad.'
Tory candidate Flick Drummond said it would be wrong for the government to step in.
'The sport should regulate itself,' she said.
During an evening of wide-ranging questions, the panel was also asked for their views on one of the key election issues – a hung parliament and with whom each party might share power.
Mrs Drummond said it would be the Lib Dems who would hold the balance of power. 'It's got very exciting,' she said. 'If the public do decide that they want a hung parliament it will be the Liberal Democrats who will decide it.'
Mr Dawes said: 'It's a long stretch of the imagination to expect that I will win, but I can assure you that the Green Party would not enter government with any other party.'
Mr Hancock avoided giving a direct answer and said the Lib Dems 'are not for sale'. He said: 'It's for the British people to make that choice. It's not for me to choose who should be in a coalition.
Mr Ferrett also did not give a clear answer, but said he wanted a fairer electoral system which would mean that Labour supporters in Portsmouth South would not have to vote Liberal Democrat to prevent the Tories from winning the seat.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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