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Friday, October 17, 2014

Fit And Proper Test Is 'Shambolic' Says Norman.


Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, has said that he will continue to try and get procedures tightened up about 'fit and proper' person test to run football clubs.

Late this afternoon he spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester about the subject and promised to keep pushing for change.

Norman wants change given the situation at Hereford United where club chairman Andy Lonsdale has still not made public whether he has passed or failed the 'fit and proper' person test.

Lonsdale told H&W on September 4th that he expected the result 'any day now'. But, as yet, nothing.

"We had a debate on Non-League football in the House of Commons last month and one of the things I highlighted is the status of the FA's 'fit and proper' test," said Norman. 

"It's simply not working.

"The FA don't seem to feel under any obilgation to disclose the results of a test.

"If you go into a 'fit and proper' test in the financial sector you know it's going to be made public and the effect of that it weeds out people who think that they might not pass.

"It took ages to get the results for Mr Agombar (former majority shareholder in Hereford United)

"We got to have a wholesale root and branch review.

"What makes it worse is that there are reports that Mr Agombar far from having sold his stake and exited the club, is infact interesting himself very much still in the club.

"The reports that he's speaking to players, speaking to staff, talking about hiring coaches.

"That doesn't suggest that the rule is enforced or observed at all.

"I'm going to make a fuss until we get some change because it's not adequate at the moment."

Towards the end of the interview Norman spoke about the majority shareholding in Hereford United, now owned by Alpha Finance.

"These shares are now being held by Alpha Finance, the company to whom Mr Agombar has supposed to have sold them.

"We never heard of them. There's no evidence that the director concerned of that company, based in Essex, has put himself forward for the owners and directors 'fit and proper' test.

"The whole thing is pretty shambolic and I'm going to continue to press this issue."