Former England star Gary Neville has called on Liz Truss to "head the ball into the net" by not watering a massive shakeup of football governance rules to support hundreds of clubs.
The ex-Man United defender, who has been scathing about Tory tax cuts for the rich, called on the government to stop dragging its heels over fair distribution of cash.
Gary, 47, called on the government to adopt the recommendations of a fan-led review published last year - with new rules over vetting club owners, sharing Premier League cash and promoting equality.
Labour's shadow sports minister Lucy Powell said that if the Tories do not bring the shake-up into effect, her party will "have no choice but to make it a party political issue".
Referring to the recommendations, Manchester United icon Gary told an audience at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool: "The cross has been placed in the box, all Liz Truss needs to do is head it into the net."
But he said he was alarmed by reports claiming the government will ditch plans for a football-wide regulator.
He said this had broad cross-party support, and football clubs across the UK are behind the idea of an independent regulator, but added: "There are a few Premier League clubs who aren't (in favour) because they're voting to have less money, but they'll get used to it."
The discussion heard there is a huge disparity between income between clubs in the top leagues and those lower down the football pyramid.
Last year Tory MP Tracey Crouch, who chaired the independent fan-led review of football governance, last year published a list of 10 recommendations :
- Creation of an independent regulator for English football (IREF)
- IREF should over should oversee financial regulation
- New owners' and directors' tests
- New approach to corporate governance
- Improvement of equality, diversity and inclusions in clubs
- Supporters should be consulted by being part of shadow board
- Additional protection for "key items of club heritage"
- Premier League making additional contributions to support the football pyramid
- Women's football should have its own dedicated review
- Better protection of player welfare
Gary, who is part owner of League Two side Salford FC, described Ms Crouch as a "very competent MP" and urged the new government to listen to her review.
He said: "Let's not be scared of regulation... football needs lanes and boundaries."
Referencing his outspoken criticism of the Tory government, he said: "Do you think I'd want this government to interfere with football if I didn't think it was necessary?"
He said: "It needs executing - what are they going to do, pull out?"
Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters' Trust, told the fringe meeting that clubs have historically been a "closed shop" and said he backed stronger regulation and better representation for fans.
Yesterday The Mirror reported that Neville had blasted Tory tax cuts for the rich as “immoral” and “madness”.
The football legend savaged the plans to hand billions to the most wealthy, and declared that Keir Starmer as prime minister would be “a change that cannot come quick enough”.
The former England international accused Liz Truss of “taking the absolute Mickey out of us” by helping the well-off as ordinary families find it difficult to make ends meet.
In a mini-Budget on Friday, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng axed the 45p top rate of income tax - handing 660,000 high earners on more than £150,000 an extra £10,000 a year. He also scrapped the cap on bonuses for fatcat bankers.
“People are struggling to pay their energy bills. I don't know any person on more than £150,000 a year that will think it's the right thing to do to basically give us more money,” Gary said.
“They want better public services, better health, education, doctor waiting times to come down.”
