Get the system to work - Sir Richard Davids

The aim to improve league competitions in Ghana still remains a challenge with English Premier League chairman, Sir Richard Davids advising stakeholders to allow the system to be more efficient.

Sir Richard Davids and a delegation from the English Premier League briefed club owners and other stakeholders on how to enhance the local competitions.


Drawing examples of how the English game managed to become the most popular league competition in the world, Sir Richard Davids admitted that the EPL, now valued at 4.3 billion pounds faced greater challenges back then when it was valued at 14 million pounds.


But ensuring that the right systems and personnel worked in the league, he said, has remained their greatest trump card though they still face some challenges.


"You have to make the system work. It depends on the FA. It's got to be tight. Abuse of power at any level would change things. But keep it running and things are okay. There would be few mistakes but hope its not too many.

"You can set up a good proper system, copy what we have (in England) or other leagues and run with it. But you've got to ensure that it works within your environment," Sir Richard Davids said to the gathering as he shared their experience, expertise and procedures that has made the English league the biggest in the world.


Sir Richard Davids also tasked the Ghana Football Association to maintain a high standard in all its dealings with laws and regulations, empaneling people to sit on disciplinary matters, marketing, sponsorship and fixture scheduling but also stressed the need for an introduction of a club licensing system.


"You've got to maintain a high standard. (Clubs) Must have a licensing system to play in it. They've got to meet certain standards on grounds, toilets, press coverage, clearer view at the grounds.


"There is the need to bring on board the Fit and Proper Person Test. To be a chairman or director of a club or on the FA, you have to be taken through this to check if you have a criminal record, investigate their sources of funding. You need high standards to achieve this. There is the need to regulate it and the league must be regulated. Transfers must be checked and a criteria for personnel that clubs employ must be in place."