TV Contracts & Revenue Distribution

A Manchester United supporter who attended his first game in 1966 against Blackburn Rovers at the age of minus 20 (ahem). For years, football for Mark was turning up at a match, supporting the team and then going home. The downside of United's success in the 90s has been that they don't really need the likes of him supporting them any more - he can't stand sea food. United's traditional support, the ones who had heard of football before Gazza cried at Italia 90, were becoming more and more marginalized and ignored.

Mark joined the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association (IMUSA) in 1995 evenutually becoming Chair. He has always believed that the only way for supporters to win is to unite and fight. He was at the heart of the CoFS process which resulted in the new unified Football Supporters' federation (FSF) we all know and love.

The future? Turn the FSF into an active campaigning organisation. Utopian dream? 10,000 football supporters from all clubs marching down Whitehall to tell the government what we want for the future of OUR game. Tell, not ask, and make 'em 'ave it.

My Role...

Football and TV or probably more accurately nowadays my portfolio should read TV and football in light of some of the ludicrous scheduling of the recent FA cup 5th round replays, some taking place over 3 weeks after the initial game simply because the TV companies couldn't find a slot in there hectic "I'm a celebrity singing and dancing on ice get me out of here" filled itineraries. Most supporters of Man City, Villa, West Ham and Bolton had forgotten who they played never mind what the score was! Then the poor mites discover that all the quarter finals are played on consecutive midweek nights for the benefit of our broadcasting brothers.

Attendances this season should tell us all including the FA and the PL ( I exempt the FL because from the outside looking they seem to be doing a good job ) that fans are finding other things to do than watch the FA cup and PL games. Believe me, with some of the KO times I'd rather be in Tesco's, at least you can walk past reasonably priced ale and pies!

Unfortunately the only influence we can have is in the run up to when whichever football authority puts out its tender document because once the bids are in there is nothing you can do for the duration of the contract ( usually 3 years ). We do lobby, have meetings with the powers that be, try to persuade tame MP's to excerpt pressure on who ever they can in order that your ordinary match going fan be given some kind of, not every kind of, just some, consideration but the bottom line is "TV's paid for it, TV's having it if it wants it" and it doesn't matter if its Torquay v Hartlepool 8pm KO on new years eve.

In the last few months The Premier League were coming under serious pressure from the EU to break up the collective deal and offer more games to more broadcasters. This would have meant less money as SKY currently pay a premium for exclusivity. They were desperate for our support, which we offered with the qualification that they must move down the road of greater distribution of monies in the PL and down to the Football League. There must also be less disruption of KO times and more consideration of the distances between clubs playing midweek. They went away to consider it. Before the had time to respond they struck a deal with the EU and guess what? they never got back to us.

I was walking down the road the other day and passed a bloke who was banging his head against a brick wall. I asked him "what that like mate" He said "it's like having the football and TV portfolio for the FSF"