West Ham’s David Sullivan has got it badly wrong after Government news – Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has suggested West Ham owner David Sullivan and Premier League boss Richard Masters have “backed the wrong horse” by opposing an independent regulator.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the public nature of the discussions surrounding the issue is “frustrating”.
Despite saying he will “engage with it positively”, Masters has warned that introducing an independent regulator is a “big risk in a successful industry”.
He was speaking before the second reading of the Football Governance Bill in the Houses of Parliament this week.
West Ham owner Sullivan has also spoken out about introducing a regulator – warning it could mean the Premier League is no longer the world’s best and “ruin an asset that we have”.
West Ham owner Sullivan and Masters have made huge government blunder
Wyness suggested both he and Masters may find it difficult to win Labour over if they gain power at the next general election.
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He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Masters had previously said he would not argue against a regulator, and we’re now seeing that he’s lobbying against it.
“The House of Commons held a drinks reception last week, trying to get support behind the bill.
“It’s frustrating because this should all be done behind the scenes. We’re now playing these battles out in public.
“The reality is, when you look at the polling – Labour will be in power. We know where they sit on the regulator, they are for it.
“I think Masters has backed the wrong horse.
“I think Labour will be really strong on a lot of the fan issues.
“Masters now has another fight, another distraction – and he’s got enough to do with running the Premier League.”
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