“The club is listed on the New York exchange and registered in the Cayman Islands, so the German model just won’t work in this country,” he said.  

Instead, plans to offer fans a “golden share” or representation at board level would go a long way to preventing clubs making substantial changes to the way they operate, he said.  

He added: “An alternative would be to insist that fan representatives have at least one seat as non-executive director on a club’s board. This would prevent the type of clandestine meetings that took place in the lead up to this Super League.” 

It is likely that both moves would require legislation, Mr Maguire said. 

It comes after the Government released details of the scope of its fan-led review into football governance, which is being led by former sports minister Tracey Crouch. 

As well as examining different ownership models, including Germany’s, it will also consider toughening up checks carried out on prospective buyers and directors of clubs, known as the “fit and proper person’s test”. 

The terms of reference of the review confirmed that it would examine calls for the creation of an independent football regulator to oversee the game’s administration and look at ways of ensuring supporters have a louder voice in the running of their clubs.

It will also look at ways to improve scrutiny of clubs’ finances, assess claims that too much money is concentrated in the Premier League, and examine whether more cash can flow down to lower leagues.

The Prime Minister is being urged to capitalise on the demand for reform in the game, with senior Tories insisting that any legislative changes would command the support of the House. 

Former deputy prime minister Damian Green, who is vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on football supporters, told i: “Football clubs are not just economic entities, they are the heart of local communities and it is very Conservative to want to preserve those communities. It also chimes with Boris Johnson’s politics, who is by nature an interventionist.”

His comments were echoed by former Cabinet minister Damian Hinds, who said there was full support in the Commons for change. “There is definitely a case for reform, although there is a balance to be struck,” he said. “The review has a lot of hopes vested in it.”

The Liberal Democrats called for legislation which would require club owners to ballot season ticket holders before committing their teams to joining new competitions. 

Sir Ed Davey, the party leader, told i: “If billionaire club owners think football fans across the country will forget this week, and everything can just return to normal, they could not be more wrong. This must be the start of a fans-led football revolution.” 

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