A new index of fairness in football has ranked clubs in East Lancashire against the rest of the footballing pyramid.

Fair Game, a campaign group working to improve how the sport is governed, said the sport is “far from perfect” but sees the potential for improvement with the likely introduction of a football regulator.

The organisation has put together a fairness index for football, drawing on more than 220 data sources covering club finances, commitment to equality, fan engagement, and governance in England’s top leagues.

Blackburn Rovers scored 44.8 out of 100 on the index, putting them 11th of all clubs in the Championship last season.

The club was ranked 44th across all the clubs in the top seven divisions of English football.

Burnley, meanwhile, scored 48,3 out of 100, putting them 13th out of the clubs that were in the Premier League last season.

They were ranked 29th across all clubs.

Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt, though was critical of the index, saying he’s “not interested in their opinion.”

On X, he tweeted: “We have targets everyone in the club is aware of and is working to improve our club.

“Ignore the tripe other people write and keep going.”

The club did not publish their position within the index.

Niall Couper, chief executive of Fair Game, said: "Football is far from perfect but with the likelihood of an incoming football regulator there is a real chance to change it for the better.

"To deliver real and meaningful change we need to understand the problems.

"This year, several overall themes have emerged: financial sustainability goes hand in hand with good governance and fan engagement.

"Football's financial flow is undermining sustainability, and equality and ethical standards are on average treated as lip service.

"In short, football in England needs a truly independent regulator that can oversee good governance, reshape football's financial flow, and ensure issues around equality and ethics get the support and respect they deserve."

Greg Campbell, partner at Campbell Tickell and leading expert on regulative practices in the UK, added: "From my experience working in different sectors, the reality is that however well-intentioned, self-regulation such as we have in football now, doesn't work.

"So, as we move towards the establishment of an independent regulator, there's clear learning from the Index for that regulator, once established, to examine.

"We look forward to seeing the new Football Governance Bill, which will hopefully tighten up on some of the areas in which the earlier version of the bill introduced before the General Election, was light."