PRESS RELEASE

Journalists and academics to give evidence to All Party Football Group Inquiry

The All Party Parliamentary Football Group today announced details of the witnesses who will give evidence to its first Inquiry session into football and its finances. The session will take place in the MacMillan Room in Portcullis House, Westminster on Thursday 12 June between 6-8pm. 

The Group will hear evidence from:

6-6.45pm:         David Conn, The Independent

Mihir Bose, Daily Telegraph

6.45-7.30pm:     Dr Rory Miller, Liverpool University Football Industry Group

                        Professor Tom Cannon, Kingston Business School

7.30-8pm: Matthew Dunham, Partner, RSM Robson Rhodes

The session will be open to journalists and members of the public.

A second session is scheduled to take place on Thursday 26 June in the Attlee Room in Portcullis House. Further details about this session will be released shortly once the full line up of witnesses has been confirmed.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Inquiry will cover all aspects of football finances with particular reference to:

· The impact of new broadcasting contracts on football’s finances

· The cost of success in today’s increasingly competitive game

· The increasing cost to fans of being a football supporter

· The growing divide between the Premiership and the Nationwide League

· The impact of increasing wage bills on clubs

· The role of Government in supporting the national game

· The importance of maintaining support for grassroots football

2. The following MPs and Peers from the Group will form a panel that will consider the submissions and hear presentations from interested parties:

Alan Keen MP, Inquiry Chair

Clive Betts MP

Lord Faulkner of Worcester

Mark Field MP

Roger Godsiff MP

Mark Hendrick MP

Lord Carter

John Mann MP

Peter Pike MP

Andy Reed MP

Christine Russell MP

Lord Taylor of Warwick

Joan Walley MP

(Plus others to be confirmed)

3. The Inquiry has already received many written submissions from a wide variety of groups and individuals with an interest in the game. Any further submissions should be sent to alankeenmp@parliament.uk The postal address is Alan Keen MP, Chair, All Party Football Group Inquiry, House of Commons, LONDON SW1A OAA.

4. The All Party Football Group is one of the largest all party groups in Parliament. Currently it has over 150 members. Its officers are:

Chair: Alan Keen MP

Vice-Chair: Claire Ward MP

Vice-Chair: John Greenway MP

Vice-Chair: Bob Russell MP

Secretary: Peter Pike MP

Treasurer: Clive Betts MP

5. For more information about this release, please contact:

alankeenmp@parliament.uk

www.allpartyfootballgroup.org.uk