Christine Oughton, Malcolm McClean, Cliff Mills & Peter Hunt

Football in this country is in turmoil. Many football clubs have serious financial problems; several face major threats to there very existence. Although the collapse of the ITV Digital deal last year was largely responsible for creating the current financial crisis, football was already experiencing financial pressures prior to the collapse of that agreement.

Much of football’s pressures are as a result of clubs’ structural dichotomy, which forces them to operate as both football clubs and profit-maximising businesses. This is especially true for those clubs, which are now Public Limited Companies. Clubs have found it difficult to balance the needs of shareholders and fans, and the collapse of the ITV Digital deal has raised new awareness about the corporate governance of football clubs.

The report explores the causes of this crisis and proposes that clubs can strengthen their long-term business foundations by taking a more inclusive approach to there corporate governance.