This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31939962
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Right-to-buy move for Scottish football backed by MSPs | Right-to-buy move for Scottish football backed by MSPs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MSPs have backed plans to allow fans the right to buy their football clubs. | MSPs have backed plans to allow fans the right to buy their football clubs. |
| Members of the local government committee supported amendments to the Community Empowerment Bill to extend the right-to-buy to football fans. | Members of the local government committee supported amendments to the Community Empowerment Bill to extend the right-to-buy to football fans. |
| Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who moved the amendments, told the committee that agreeing to the changes would turn the legislation into a landmark bill. | |
| If passed by the full parliament, supporters' trusts would get "first refusal" when a club comes up for sale. | If passed by the full parliament, supporters' trusts would get "first refusal" when a club comes up for sale. |
| A supporters' trust with a registered interest in a football club would also have the right to buy shares in that football club, including a controlling interest, at any point. | |
| Nothing to fear | Nothing to fear |
| Ms Johnstone said: "This is an extraordinary day for the future of Scottish football. | Ms Johnstone said: "This is an extraordinary day for the future of Scottish football. |
| "We know how badly the game has been struggling, from Gretna to Hearts and Rangers, and we know fan ownership works. | "We know how badly the game has been struggling, from Gretna to Hearts and Rangers, and we know fan ownership works. |
| "It's great that parliament has today united around the principle of a responsible fans' right to buy their clubs." | "It's great that parliament has today united around the principle of a responsible fans' right to buy their clubs." |
| The Scottish Green MSP said that, if passed by the full Scottish Parliament, fans would have "nothing to fear from irresponsible owners like those who have undermined so many clubs". | The Scottish Green MSP said that, if passed by the full Scottish Parliament, fans would have "nothing to fear from irresponsible owners like those who have undermined so many clubs". |
| She added: "We know there are plenty of good private owners of clubs, and this will not require fans to buy them out, but when they move on, fans will be in the right place to take over if they wish." | She added: "We know there are plenty of good private owners of clubs, and this will not require fans to buy them out, but when they move on, fans will be in the right place to take over if they wish." |
| Ms Johnstone's amendments bring the principles of rural land reform laws, which help communities buy land, to supporters of football clubs. | Ms Johnstone's amendments bring the principles of rural land reform laws, which help communities buy land, to supporters of football clubs. |
| Appointed valuer | Appointed valuer |
| The new legislation would mean that supporters' trusts would legally register an interest in a football club. | The new legislation would mean that supporters' trusts would legally register an interest in a football club. |
| This would mean the owner of the club would be prohibited from "taking any action with a view to the transfer of ownership of that football club" until it had complied with the act. | This would mean the owner of the club would be prohibited from "taking any action with a view to the transfer of ownership of that football club" until it had complied with the act. |
| The supporters' trust would then be given an opportunity to buy the club at a price assessed by an appointed valuer. | The supporters' trust would then be given an opportunity to buy the club at a price assessed by an appointed valuer. |
| Local Government Minister Marco Biagi said the Scottish government wanted to give fans the right to buy their clubs using regulations which would be put in place after the bill was passed. | |
| "Affirmative procedure for the development of the details, with the aim put in the bill, would allow consultation with the wider football community; it would allow consultation, as appropriate, with the parliament; and it would ensure that we don't just endorse the principle but we ensure that any legislation we introduce we get right," he said. |