FA agree new rules to safeguard Non-League

The Ryman League's clubs will soon be benefiting from new Football Association rules to promote the sustainability and integrity of Non-League football.

After The FA Council agreed to a number of rule changes this week, all clubs playing at Steps 1-4 of the football pyramid from the 2016-17 season onwards will need to be licensed by their respective leagues in order to compete.

The FA say clubs will be assessed in various areas including legal, ownership, integrity, stadia and finance in order to obtain a licence which are being introduced as an important step towards protecting clubs and promoting financial stability in the top levels of the Non-League game.

The FA Council also approved changes to The Owner’s and Director’s Test for clubs in the Football Conference, Ryman League, Evo-Stik League Southern and EVO-STIK Northern Premier League.

Coming into force from 1 August 2015 and designed to improve the transparency and efficiency of the ODT processes, they will allow The FA to publicise the results of ODTs in future and take quicker action against compliance failures.

The FA confirmed the introduction of the new rules and plans in a statement released by officials at Wembley on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: “From the 2016-17 season clubs in Steps 1 to 4 of the football pyramid will need a licence from their leagues to compete. The introduction of the licences is an important step to help protect clubs and to promote financial stability at this level of the game.

“Further regulations approved include changes to The Owner’s and Director’s Test for clubs in the Football Conference and the three leagues below. The changes allow The FA to publicise the results of ODTs if necessary and to take quicker action against a club and an officer that fails to comply with the regulations."

Image courtesy of www.thefa.com

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