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Some persons with colourful backgrounds have been owners of football clubs. Now the Premiership has attempted to boost corporate governance standards by introducing a 'fit and proper person' test. Those who have suffered personal insolvency or who have led clubs into insolvency twice will be prevented from becoming directors of a Premiership club, as will anyone convicted of a range of offences including fraud and theft (which would have presumably ruled out one chairman who was a reformed safe breaker). Directors will also be obliged to submit annual financial reports that set out all their transactions, including payments to agents, which has been a notably murky area of football finance. Directors will also be obliged to declare all their other shareholdings to ensure that dual ownership rules are upheld. What these rules will not cover is the situation where a shadowy figure controls a club from behind the scenes using a majority or substantial shareholding to influence events through directors who are effectively 'front men'.
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