THE Government yesterday released its football white paper which gives details of its plans to create an independent regulator of the men’s game to prevent clubs failing financially, to give fans more of a say in the running of their clubs and to prevent the formation of a breakaway super-league.

I am proud to have Stockton Town as our local club in my constituency. It brings a fantastic benefit to our area, and is a great ambassador for the Teesside region.

I recently visited Bishopton Road, the home of Stockton Town FC, where I participated as a match day volunteer.

It was an eye-opening experience where I witnessed what a community-driven project the club has become.

Football is part of our heritage, and so I am pleased to see the developments taken today safeguard its future.

The success of English football is an achievement that should rightly be celebrated. Our clubs, across the top divisions, have been great generators of tourism, jobs, and local pride. The Premier League is often looked at as the international standard for top-flight football and attracts more viewers and revenue than any of its international rivals. It demonstrates the best of the UK on the world stage.

We, however, have all seen the litany of issues that have plagued the footballing world of late. Poor governance, lacklustre industry self-regulation and poor incentives have left many clubs endangered, with growing numbers of organisations across the top five tiers at risk of financial failure.

Debt has been growing in all tiers of the sport, with pre-tax losses across the Premier League and Championship totalling nearly £1.1bn in 2020-21, and net debt reaching a combined £5.9bn.

Other challenges have threatened to derail the sport – the efforts to create a breakaway “super-league” tarnished the reputations of, and trust in, many clubs.

It is clear that greater protection of the grassroots core of the sport is needed, and following the fan-lead review, the government is setting out measures to ensure this.

I embrace the proposals for a new regulator, empowered to safeguard the interests of fans and local football communities.

This regulator will set out, and operate, a licensing system to ensure that all professional clubs are licensed, and therefore meeting the relevant requirements for appropriate financial resources, management, conduct and fan engagement.

As part of this system, the regulator will properly scrutinise the ownership, management and wider corporate governance of professional clubs, ensuring that any changes to these are in the best interests of the club as a whole.

The regulator will also put fans at the heart of football. This will include implementing minimum standards for fan engagement, reinforced protection of club heritage, and fan consultation and approval for any sales or relocations of the club. It will also ensure that clubs are only able to compete in approved competitions, preventing future “super-league” attempts.

Across the board, these changes will ensure that across the country our clubs remain local clubs first, and protect our fans, current and future.

I am passionate that regardless of any position that a club like Stockton Town may find itself in, (as we work our way up the leagues!) the community that drives it today continues to stay at the heart of the club.

Be that non-league, as present, or higher up the leagues, (come on Anchors!), and whomever any future owners may be, Stockton Town should represent the supporters who built it up, and continued to stay with it throughout the tough years of late.