The Football League has announced changes to the ownership and directors’ test 49ers Enterprises will have to pass before they complete their proposed takeover of Leeds United. The changes come as part of a wave of alterations for the new season, voted through by EFL clubs.
Whites minority shareholders 49ers Enterprises are reportedly keen on pushing through their purchase of the club in the coming weeks, despite United’s relegation from the Premier League. A Daily Mail report earlier this week claimed a deal to buy the club from Andrea Radrizzani has been agreed and the matter could now be in the hands of the Football League.
The governing body must make sure those involved in the investment group pass their ownership and directors’ test and it seems they will be using a fresh set of rules. The changes have been made in order to align themselves with the Premier League’s tests.
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As per the EFL website, disqualifying conditions now include:
· Disqualifying individuals who are subject to sanctions;
- Prohibiting ownership by state entities from countries which are sanctioned;
- Second (or further) bankruptcies/convictions/bans, even if expired or spent.
- Convictions for violent offences;
- Convictions for fraud of any kind;
- Disqualification for wider corporate insolvencies;
- Disqualifications by a wider range of Government bodies;
- Having been removed as a trustee of a pension scheme by the Pensions’ Regulator or the Courts;
- Expulsion of sporting clubs in other sports (eg. Rugby) as the League does for football clubs;
- Expanding the period in which insolvency of a company/club counts against a director who has resigned from 30 days to one year; and
- Reducing the definition of Control from 30% to 25%
There have been other changes made by the EFL, with a multi-ball system set to be brought back, while the use of towels to dry balls before throw-ins has been banned. As Leeds will be used to seeing from the Premier League, cones with matchballs on them will now be spread around the edge of Championship, League One and League Two pitches.
Updates have been made when it comes to reporting insolvency and debts to HMRC. A full list of changes can be found here.
