THE LEADER of Harlow Labour attended the Fair Game conference hosted at Chester FC last week and discussed the importance of the cross party supported white paper on reforms to the governance of football.

Chris Vince said: “Let’s be honest, our current system is broken with clubs at the top with vast amounts of cash and others nearly breaking the bank to try to compete with them. As a Leeds fan this is something that is all too familiar to me. Sadly when teams are struggling it’s the women’s team, the youth teams and the community work which are the first to go.

We heard from Labour MPs Lucy Powell and Alison McGovern who have been strong supporters of greater financial regulations as well as Mark Palios owner of Tranmere Rovers and closer to home, one of the directors of Cambridge United, Ian Maher.

As a keen cooperator I was particularly interested in hearing more about fan run football teams and it pains me to say as a Leeds fan that FC United of Manchester are leading the way on this, albeit because they were formed by fans following the Glaziers take over of Man Utd.

Ultimately we do need to support our grass roots clubs if they were to survive. The sad testament of a Bury Town fan now director of Bury AFC shows what can go wrong. The argument that greater regulation and potentially wage caps will hamper our teams in Europe is a moot point in my view. currently the top prem teams are out-spending their European rivals and it may be unpopular but personally I would rather see British clubs progress less far in the champions league if it meant smaller clubs didn’t go bust. By the way Leyton Orient are also a member of the Fair Game group.

“Football is more than a sport, it’s part of the community. I know how much my fellow Harlow Town supporters have missed going to the football on a Saturday afternoon. Imagine if like Bury Town this was a permanent situation.

“Fortunately I am confident Harlow will come back stronger!”