Norfolk Lord Criticizes Government’s Football Regulator Plan, Claims Norwich City Would Have Folded
A Norfolk lord has strongly opposed the government’s plans for an independent football regulator, arguing that under such a system, Norwich City Football Club would not have survived.
Lord Fuller of Gorleston claimed that neither Delia Smith nor Geoffrey Watling would have been able to step in and rescue the Canaries if the proposed regulations had been in place. In response, he attempted to introduce several amendments to the Labour government’s Football Regulation Bill as it progressed through the House of Lords.
The former South Norfolk Council leader expressed particular concern over a clause in the bill requiring potential buyers to undergo vetting before being granted access to a club’s financial records.
“How have we ended up in this situation? This is not how business deals are done,” he argued. “If the books remain closed, how can a buyer assess whether a deal is even viable? And if the buyer hasn’t been vetted, the seller risks violating regulations simply by providing access to financial information.
“This bill claims to prevent clubs from going bust, but in reality, it would ensure their demise.”
Lord Fuller highlighted the role of former Norwich City chairman Geoffrey Watling, who twice saved the club from financial peril, including during the turbulent 1990s following the Robert Chase era.
“If a regulator had been in place under Clause 27, Chase would have given up far earlier than he did,” Lord Fuller stated. “Geoffrey Watling—despite his good intentions—wouldn’t have been allowed to step in because he wouldn’t have met the requirements of Clause 37(4).
“He only ran a taxi company; he had no formal qualifications for football ownership.”
He also suggested that long-time club owners Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, who recently stepped down from the Norwich City board after more than three decades, may not have been eligible to take over under the proposed regulations.
“In simple terms, because of Clause 27, our club would have folded before these rescue efforts could even begin.”
Despite his objections, Lord Fuller’s proposed amendments were ultimately rejected.
Defending the bill, sports minister Baroness Twycross insisted that proper oversight was necessary to prevent unfit individuals from taking control of clubs.
“The regulator must be able to gather the necessary information to evaluate potential buyers and work with both the buyers and the club to ensure a proper application is submitted in a timely manner,” she explained. “Without these provisions, unsuitable and untested individuals could enter the system without the regulator’s knowledge.”
