We take a look at the best and worst run Premier League, EFL, National League clubs revealed by Fair Game for 2024. In this section, it’s second tier teams of the 2023/24 season. Check them out below…
Spurs has been named as the best-managed football club in England, according to the Fair Game Index, which represents the most thorough evaluation of men’s professional football ever conducted.
Four other Premier League clubs join Tottenham in the top 10, with Manchester United coming second.
Then we have five clubs from the EFL included, with Cambridge United from League One achieving the third overall position and being recognised as the top club within the Football League.
While Premier League teams generally fared well in the Index, no English club was able to surpass Celtic, which was ranked as the top club overall.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
The Index says: “Clubs that have good governance are predominately either PLCs (and therefore have a legal requirement to be so) – Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic for example – or have significant fan presence on their boards. In short, the frameworks are already in place for good governance so clubs
should have nothing to be scared of.
“Top three north of the border were Heart of Midlothian, winners Celtic and Rangers. In England, Norwich City topped the table, followed by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Celtic again are the best governed club overall, followed by Norwich and Hearts.”
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
“On financial sustainability, five of the top 10 are Fair Game clubs (Carlisle United, AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels, Chester City and Cambridge United). All of them are under increasing pressure to abandon their principles. To resolve this football’s financial flow needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Clubs that publish full accounts also score better – strengthening the argument for the regulator to call for full disclosure. In Scotland, as a nod to how the game is better run north of the border, the top 10 are all from the Scottish Premier League.
“Overall winners in Scotland are Celtic, followed by Kilmarnock and St Mirren. The winners in England were York City, followed by Bolton Wanderers and Cambridge United.”
EQUALITY AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
“On equality and ethical standards, the scores across the board were very disappointing. This adds weight to the argument that change needs to happen and that that should be included in the remit of a regulator. In England, only 16 of the top 164 clubs managed to get over 50% in this category. Clubs from diverse or liberal areas score highest, notably Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal and winners Brighton & Hove Albion. Equality standards scores in Scotland are however even worse than in England, with only Celtic scoring above half marks.
FAN & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“On fan and community engagement, fan-owned clubs, unsurprisingly, dominated the top positions, with seven
of the top 12 being fan-owned – AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels, Scarborough Athletic, Exeter City, Chester City, and Bath City. The seven all out-scored every Premier League side.
“Blackpool also saw notable improvement as they have emerged from the Oyston years. It is a similar story in Scotland – seven of the top 10 are fan-owned. Topping the charts there are Hibernian, Stenhousemuir and Clyde. Hibernian and Stenhousemuir share top spot with a score of 8.3 out of 10.
“Top in England and top overall are AFC Wimbledon.”
Continue our look at the best and worst run Premier League and EFL clubs revealed by Fair Game for 2024. In this section, it’s third tier teams of the 2023/24 season. Just click on the next page…
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