Mellor and Banks launch Task Force

Banks Passes Football To Mellor

Mr Mellor plans to tour the country listening to football fans, to discuss their complaints about the way the game's run. He also wants clubs to adopt a "Robin Hood" policy - taking money from rich fans to help pay for the poor ones, and to keep the game accessible to "genuine fans".

Taskforce for a better deal for fans

Speaking at the launch at Charlton Athletic FC Sports Minister Tony Banks promised the taskforce will work towards a fairer deal for fans. He unveiled the seven key aims Mr Mellor would pursue:

• Eliminate racism in football
• Improve access for disabled fans
• Involve fans in the running of clubs
• Make replica shirts and other merchandise more affordable
• Encourage players to be role models, and finally to
• Reconcile conflicts between fans, players and shareholders when clubs are floated on the stock exchange

Mr Mellor who presents a football phone-in programme on BBC Radio 5 Live, thinks his work on the radio will stand him in good stead.

Tony Banks says he picked David Mellor for the job because he knows his stuff and is a former Government Minister.

Mr Banks added "Let's really make football Britain's family game."