Fans want changes

Last updated : 23 April 2010 By Firparkcorner

Those are the main conclusions of an extensive survey undertaken by Supporters Direct, the umbrella organisation for supporters’ trusts.   The data was gathered in October 2009 and is now available here

Fans were invited to respond via appeals on trust and fan websites, over 1300 questionnaires were completed.

The main conclusions are that fans feel they are under represented in the game, that there should be a pyramid structure and that a unified body should take control can hardly come as a surprise but will any account be taken of our views?

It has been obvious for years that the Scottish game is in decline and all that the authorities have done is to tinker around the edge of the problem.  The Scottish Football Review, led by Henry McLeish has been examining the issue for a year at the invitation of the SFA.  The first recommendations are to be announced today and it must be hoped that the first steps to a recovery are made as a result.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

League Structure

Only 4% of fans prefer to play opponents four times per season

90% of fans agree that the existing league structure need to be changed

with 83% preferring to play opponents twice each season

83% of fans say there should be a pyramid league structure in Scottish football.

99% of fans agree that promotion and relegation are fundamental to the Scottish league structure

Two-thirds of fans favour promotion and relegation play-offs.

 

Football Administration

91% of fans would prefer one single administrative body for professional football

83% of fans agree there should be a club licensing scheme with sanctions for those that don’t meet the standard

Preferably the licence should include:

Financial stability of club (supported by 91% of respondents)

Supporter involvement (74%)

 Business competence of directors (73%)

 Effective youth programmes (71%)

 

Influence and Representation

Over 70% of fans feel they have very little influence and 90% agree that fans should have more or much more influence

Aside from the fans having a greater say respondents said individual clubs, the SFA and SportScotland should also have more of an influence on the game.

Fans view the SPL and TV Channels as having the greatest influence on the game followed by the SFA and individual clubs

Two thirds believe that TV channels should have a smaller influence and over 50% think the SPL should also have less influence

 

Improving The Match

Given a choice of three things that would improve Scottish football fans chose:

Lower prices Better quality of football

Modern standing areas