A campaigning grassroots football chairman has welcomed recent talks held with Suffolk FA chiefs but called for tangible action to be taken with some urgency.

Lee Partridge, chairman of East Bergholt FC's youth section, and former Ipswich Vale Exiles chairman Ollie Langham met with Suffolk FA to discuss proposals to improve transparency and procedure following revelations in Nub News.... Full story here...

Former Brantham Athletic youth coach, Mr Partridge said: "The meeting between myself, Ollie and Suffolk FA was I hope very beneficial to all parties involved.

"We feel that our positive, simple and effective proposals will promote and support ongoing financial safeguarding and protection for ALL clubs under Suffolk FA affiliation. Not only that but it will also reinforce and remind anyone involved and linked to any club affiliated to Suffolk FA that there is actual accountability within football, whether it's on or off the field.

"I believe our proposals were well received and one would hope that the meeting wasn't just Suffolk FA playing lip service however numerous situations raised are still very concerning and I believe need to be addressed with the upmost urgency and clarification."

A Suffolk FA spokesperson said: "It was a private meeting, and we are now working together on the points raised."

Among the actions Mr Partridge wants to see is that their proposals to be taken, recorded and discussed at the next Suffolk FA Board meeting.

They would also like the opportunity to personally address the Suffolk FA Board and Council to highlight problems we have experienced, the outcomes and our proposals for improving financial safeguarding for all clubs.

He added: "We personally wish to help, engage and actively support Suffolk FA to improve financial safeguarding for ALL clubs under it's affiliation."

Mr Partridge also expressed concerns at Suffolk FA's lack of action when dealing with certain complaints within the grassroots game.

He said: "Whilst we welcome the recently published Complaints Procedures in January 21, Suffolk FA have yet again been unable to provide the previous complaints procedures upon request suggesting that Suffolk FA have never had any official complaints procedures in place.

"I find this incredibly worrying and it begs the question whether all previous complaints made to Suffolk FA have been handled in a fair, appropriate, consistent and unbiased manner.

"In my humble opinion the recently published complaints procedure isn't robust enough and definitely doesn't hold individuals to account. By this I mean that if the complaints procedure aren't followed by Suffolk FA they as an organisation can just apologise or even just say that they should've handled things better.

"This is a complete denial of responsibility and integrity and shows no accountability within Suffolk FA itself.

"Are we as clubs, officials, players, parents and individuals able to shirk responsibility and hide behind these poor excuses, if we face disciplinary action or fines from Suffolk FA?"

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