The new EFL owners test
Fri May 23, 2025 12:33 pm
Interesting from Gary Neville on the new EFL owners test.
He had to go through the test recently because him and Salford changed their ownership structure:
"We've just been through the owners and directors test. It is unbelievably rigorous compared to five or six years ago.
My mum was at Bury when she had to sign the forms from the owner who was there to the guy who essentially bust them. The tests weren't rigorous.
But now, we were supposed to deal at the end of March with the EFL. But it's taken six to eight weeks. We had eight people coming in so maybe it took a bit longer.
But the test was really strict. Some of it was the source and efficiency of funds for the next five years.
They don't just track what you've got in your bank accounts. They actually go into where that money has come from.
It's a real, rigorous process that is in place now thankfully.
As I was going through it, I was thinking this is hard work. Before the money in the bank was enough but now they're going back deeper and deeper so that everything is properly checked.
In the end, they lock you all into a secure funding agreement. That means you have to secure to put those funds in place.
There's a lot more rigour involved in what goes through now.
It took two or three months longer than we thought because of all the information that you had to go through."
He had to go through the test recently because him and Salford changed their ownership structure:
"We've just been through the owners and directors test. It is unbelievably rigorous compared to five or six years ago.
My mum was at Bury when she had to sign the forms from the owner who was there to the guy who essentially bust them. The tests weren't rigorous.
But now, we were supposed to deal at the end of March with the EFL. But it's taken six to eight weeks. We had eight people coming in so maybe it took a bit longer.
But the test was really strict. Some of it was the source and efficiency of funds for the next five years.
They don't just track what you've got in your bank accounts. They actually go into where that money has come from.
It's a real, rigorous process that is in place now thankfully.
As I was going through it, I was thinking this is hard work. Before the money in the bank was enough but now they're going back deeper and deeper so that everything is properly checked.
In the end, they lock you all into a secure funding agreement. That means you have to secure to put those funds in place.
There's a lot more rigour involved in what goes through now.
It took two or three months longer than we thought because of all the information that you had to go through."
Re: The new EFL owners test
Fri May 23, 2025 12:47 pm
All well and good having such a test but it doesn’t stop the unscrupulous owners doing things after they've taken over A stipulation of the sale is that owner does not sell ground separately from players? This one thing is the route cause of clubs troubles! It's something this new regulator must get to grips with as well.......
Re: The new EFL owners test
Fri May 23, 2025 12:56 pm
pembroke allan wrote:All well and good having such a test but it doesn’t stop the unscrupulous owners doing things after they've taken over A stipulation of the sale is that owner does not sell ground separately from players? This one thing is the route cause of clubs troubles! It's something this new regulator must get to grips with as well.......
True but what Neville says is encouraging, seems the EFL are finally being tough on new owners.
Some have said that if Tan goes then we could end up with someone worse but that doesn't seem likely, going by what Neville says here, because the tests are much more rigorous.
Re: The new EFL owners test
Fri May 23, 2025 3:50 pm
it won't mean a thing, as long as the cash is flashed, doors will open. Football is just one big gravy train for those trying to get a piece of the billionaire's pie.
Re: The new EFL owners test
Fri May 23, 2025 5:33 pm
worcester_ccfc wrote:pembroke allan wrote:All well and good having such a test but it doesn’t stop the unscrupulous owners doing things after they've taken over A stipulation of the sale is that owner does not sell ground separately from players? This one thing is the route cause of clubs troubles! It's something this new regulator must get to grips with as well.......
True but what Neville says is encouraging, seems the EFL are finally being tough on new owners.
Some have said that if Tan goes then we could end up with someone worse but that doesn't seem likely, going by what Neville says here, because the tests are much more rigorous.
Ned it appears they are taking it more seriously as previously some really dodgy owners passed a fitness test when wasn't fit enough to run a stall on Saturday morning market! Can't see city ending up with a dodgy new owner as cost to much to mess with club got to be serious if investing potentially £100m+ of their money.
