FAQs
About the BIHFA
Who are the committee of the BIHFA?
There have been fans’ associations before – why would this be any different?
Why should you lead a fans’ association?
How can I get involved?
Why are you only talking about this now? Why’s it been so secretive?
Who have you spoken to?
Why have we not heard about this before? Why have you released this information rather than the people directly involved?
Isn’t this just going to create bad publicity?
Why should the governing body listen to the fans?
What are the chances of the fans’ actually being listened to?
So how should the sport be governed?
Have any other reviews like this taken place?
So how would this review work?
Surely that costs a lot of money?
Who are the committee of the BIHFA?
Dave Cunningham – Interim Chairman
Claire Westney – Interim Vice-Chairman
Julian Sykes – Interim Secretary
Gordon McQuade – Interim Membership secretary
Steven McLean – Interim Webmaster
More information on the interim committee, and our mission and constitution can be found on our website. Return to the top.
There have been fans’ associations before – why would this be any different?
We feel that this is a crucial time for the sport – there is an investigation into the governance, and a clear steer has been given from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport that changes need to be made. We know that UK Sport has a preferred model, and that they consider fan involvement to be highly desirable.
With that timing in mind, we feel that now there is a clear opening for us to take advantage of. In previous incarnations, fans associations have been focused on highlighting the need for change – that’s already been done; the opportunity now is to be involved in that change.
There are of course no guarantees of success – there is a strong possibility that those within the sport don’t feel it is in their interests to listen to an association such as this. However, we believe that we can offer constructive inputs into the process and would like to work with those in power to help deliver what we all want to see – a healthy, profitable, entertaining sport with a real future. Return to the top.
Why should you lead a fans’ association?
At the moment we’re focused on setting the association up. We may not be the right people to lead the association into the future: In our interim constitution, we’ve made provision for an AGM to take place within 6 months, at which point any member will be able to stand for any position. At the moment, we believe we’re the right people due to the work we’ve been doing in building contacts, understanding the various governance models, writing the constitution and gaining a real feel for the cross-section of opinions. Return to the top.
How can I get involved?
Sign up – it’s free to join until the AGM, where the membership will decide on the appropriate way forward. On the membership form you can signal your level of involvement – from nothing to heavy involvement. Return to the top.
Why are you only talking about this now? Why’s it been so secretive?
We’ve learnt from mistakes made before. We wanted to get the foundations in place and be set up ready to go when we had something to act on – we think we’ve got that now. We want to be open and transparent – that’s why we’ve committed to an early AGM to become truly representative. Return to the top.
Who have you spoken to?
Everyone from fans, owners, administrators, sports consultants, UK Sport, MPs, journalists, IHPA, players, officials and those involved in other sports. Return to the top.
About the Review
Why have we not heard about this before? Why have you released this information rather than the people directly involved?
We have been given permission to quote from the letter by one of the recipients.
We felt it was important to bring it to the public’s attention in the interests of openness and transparency, but also because we feel that for a review to be successful it should listen to all of the key stakeholders – not just those with a direct involvement. Return to the top.
Isn’t this just going to create bad publicity?
The last thing we want is to damage the sport through bad publicity. We see the review as a positive, and believe that it has the potential to safeguard the future of the sport. As key stakeholders, the fans should have the opportunity to contribute and be informed. We believe the reward, of a healthy sport with a strong leadership, outweighs the risk of adverse publicity. Return to the top.
Why should the governing body listen to the fans?
At a very basic level – because we’re the customers. We’re a diminishing bunch, with attendances falling. We’re also passionate about the future of the sport, about the development of our juniors, our officials and our senior players. There’s a perception that fans know nothing about the commercial realities of the sport, or want to take over, neither of which we believe to be true. What we’re aiming for is for our views to be listened to, and taken into account. Return to the top.
What are the chances of the fans’ actually being listened to?
Let’s be honest – we’re not sure. What we do know is that UK Sport encourage fan involvement in sports governance. For that to happen, there needs to be a mouthpiece for a cross-section of fan opinion to be canvassed and communicated as part of that governance process – that’s why we’ve set up the BIHFA, so that if we get the go ahead – we’re ready for action. Return to the top.
So how should the sport be governed?
We wouldn’t presume to know all the answers – we have some ideas of our own which can be found on our website, but ultimately, we have to get to a model that works for all parties – that allows the fans some sort of voice, that builds a future for the sport, but most importantly allows for an operating model that is financially viable. Our preferred method of fan involvement is through the establishment of an Ice Hockey Council. Return to the top.
Have any other reviews like this taken place?
The most visible was the review of the FA structure, following on from the Burns report in 2003. UK Sport then undertook a wider exercise in developing governance frameworks for sporting governing bodies in general. We know that Basketball is partway through the process, The National Ice Skating Association were heavily involved in the initial UK Sport framework development and have adopted the recommended approach. Other major reviews include the Foster report on athletics and the Cox report on Hockey. Return to the top.
So how would this review work?
Our understanding is that this would be an internal review conducted within the sport, with the support of UK Sport. Our preference would be for a wider review - there is precedent for this: the Mallin Basketball review for example is led by the CEO of Star Capital partners, with experts in organisational change, sports consultants, representatives from the media, and sports development all supported by sport England and UK Sport. Return to the top.
Surely that costs a lot of money?
We believe that the investment required will form the basis for the sport to operate on a firmer financial footing going forward and make the sport more attractive to sponsors and media partners as well as releasing funding from UK Sport. Our understanding is that funding may be available from UK Sport to set up the new Governance process and review. Return to the top.