MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Jim McMahon, has backed the government's Football Governance Bill, saying it will help teams like Oldham Athletic.

Last week, the government introduced the Football Governance Bill, which will look to put fans first while safeguarding the game’s heritage and protecting it for the long-term. 

Mr McMahon says the Bill would help the Latics build on the work already done in recent years to secure Boundary Park as an Asset of Community Value.

The Football Governance Bill was introduced to the House of Lords last week on the same day that a debate was held around ticket touting in Westminster Hall.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

The government says that the Bill will strengthen the football regulator's remit which will, among other things, oversee clubs in the top five tiers of the game.

Mr McMahon said: “We are launching these much-needed new measures to protect football clubs and support fans. By taking on rogue owners, helping put clubs on a sound financial footing, and putting fans back at the heart of the game; Labour is protecting the game and its heritage at every level.

"We know how valuable football clubs are to fans, communities, and local economies. We want to secure their long-term future and avoid financial sustainability issues many clubs have suffered from over recent years at every level of the pyramid.

"With the work we have done over recent years to secure Boundary Park as an asset of community value and give it security in the long-term with the ground sharing deal between Oldham Athletic and Oldham RLFC, Labour is delivering at every level of government on a shared priority: to safeguard heritage, community venues and local sports institutions through community ownership and robust regulatory frameworks.”

READ MORE: Fondop on fire for Oldham Athletic in Dagenham win

Responding to the updated Bill, the Premier League expressed concern at the regulator having “unprecedented and untested” powers to intervene in the distribution of top-flight revenue and said this “could have a negative impact on the league’s continued competitiveness, clubs’ investment in world-class talent and, above all, the aspiration that drives our global appeal and growth”.

The Premier League was also upset by a clause in the original Bill introduced by the Conservatives earlier this year that said decisions on approving takeovers and directorships should have regard to the government’s trade and foreign policy.

The new Labour Government has removed that clause, which was also singled out in a letter from UEFA to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy earlier this year reminding the Government of sanctions that could be brought to bear if UEFA deemed there was political interference in the running of one of its member associations.