Supporters Direct: 38% of fans want a formal role in the ownership of their club

38% of English fans support changing football rules so that fans have a direct role in the ownership of their clubs, according to a survey released on 05/08/2014 by Supporters Direct Europe, a pan-European network that helps fans to set up supporters’ trusts, to gain influence in the running and ownership of their clubs.

44% of fans surveyed believe that "football is broken and the FA [Football Association] needs to intervene to fix it." Only 18% of fans think their club is well-run financially and 77% believe that they should be formally consulted when the management of a club wants to make changes (the name, logo, colours or location of the club).

"This definitive poll -- the most comprehensive ever undertaken -- of the supporters of English football clubs about how they view the running of the game, shows irrefutably that the average fan does care that their clubs are run badly; that they do want to see the FA get control and run it in the interests of all, not just a minority of clubs or officials at the top; and that they believe that part of that should mean a role in the…