Labour will unveil plans today that attempt to give football fans a bigger voice in club boardrooms and allow them to buy shares when the ownership of sides change.

Labour’s shadow sports minister Clive Efford MP is behind the launch of what would be the biggest legislative shake-up in the governance of English and Welsh football clubs since the creation of the game.

After consulting 95 football supporters’ organisations, the plan still requires supporters to come together to form a single accredited trust in return for the right to “appoint and remove up to a quarter and not less than two of a football club’s board of directors,” and “purchase up to 10 per cent of the shares when a club change ownership, if they so wish.” 

In communications between supporters and Labour, fans have said that they feel this is the only way to ensure that those running clubs share information, power and responsibility with them and avoid situations such as Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.

The proposals laid out by Labour mean fans will be able to hold the owners of their clubs accountable on all issues both on and off the field — including ticket prices, shirt sponsorship, ground naming rights and changing the colour of the strip or club name.

Efford said: “Too often fans are treated like an after-thought as ticket prices are hiked-up, grounds relocated and clubs burdened with debt or the threat of bankruptcy.  Only this week, the BBC’s Price of Football survey showed how average prices have risen at almost twice the rate of the cost of living since 2011. 

“The Labour Party has listened to the views of fans about changing the way football is run in England and Wales. And we want to ensure they are heard by the owners of the clubs too.  We will now consult further on proposals to enshrine on the statute books the idea that football have a special place in people’s hearts — and should be the heart of our communities.”

Labour policy review head Jon Cruddas MP said: “The Premier League is a huge success. But football is more than a business. Football clubs are part of people’s identity and sense of belonging. 

“Our plan is to give fans a stake in their clubs. Labour believes in sharing power and responsibility with people and giving football fans a voice is part of our plan to change our country by devolving power to our cities, towns and communities. We believe in a society that gives power to people.”