Supporters Direct launches its ‘Manifesto for the Scottish elections 2016’

Sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/scottish-government-manifesto-for-change-within-scottish-football to add your support to this campaign.

Supporters Direct Scotland has been a major force in Scottish football in recent years, successfully challenging the political parties and football authorities to introduce real reform for the benefit of the fans. With these crucial elections in May 2016, we challenge the major parties to adopt our agenda to implement lasting change for Scottish fans.

1) Structured dialogue
Supporter involvement within the game is critical. SDS wishes to see clubs engage with supporters through a range of structured means including quarterly meetings with Supporters Trusts and embracing supporter on to the board of clubs. Supporters contribute time, emotional effort and, over a lifetime, a huge sum of money to support their clubs. Clubs should make a more concentrated effort to embrace their views.

2) Funding for fans to own their clubs
We are pushing for the creation of a new ‘Community Sports Fund’ for supporter groups to have a bigger stake in their club. SDS believes community groups and community owned clubs offer greater social value and could bring larger net benefit if they had access to affordable capital to transfer assets into community ownership.

3) Tackling prejudice
Football is a universally loved sport which can unite people and create positive change in the community. SDS can continue to play a key role in eradicating sectarianism, sexism, homophobia and racism which still exists around sport. SDS is committed to championing equality through sport and will continue to work with the key stakeholders to tackle discrimination.

4) Fair ticketing
The commodification of football has meant that too often, supporters have been viewed as cash cows rather than the lifeblood and valued stakeholders they are. SDS will continue to campaign for a ‘Football is Fair’ ticket price limit for Scottish FA & SPFL games to ensure that football remains accessible and affordable to families and future generations.

5) A living wage at clubs
SDS is passionate about equality at every level of the game, including financial equality. We would like to see those who work within clubs, some of which are multi-million pound companies, pay all their staff a living wage. SDS believe that if clubs can afford to pay players significant sums of money, they can afford to give staff an appropriate salary.