Caborn met with football officials to discuss club ownership

Caborn's statement comes after he held a meeting with executives from the Premier League, Football Association and Football League on Wednesday.

He said: "Rules on ownership must remain under constant review and strengthened if necessary.

"There are concerns that the community roots of the game must be protected."

The sports minister's call for Wednesday's summit came as a result of the trend towards top-flight clubs being snapped up by foreign owners.

The latest takeover involves former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - dubbed "unsavoury" by an MP in parliament - who is set to take over Manchester City.

And Caborn made it clear he wanted to investigate the 'fit and proper person test' used for club owners and directors.

After meeting with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, FA directors Simon Johnson and Jonathan Hall and Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney, Caborn said he been encouraged by what he heard.

"With the football authorities having in place their own fit and proper persons rules on top of those applied through company law, it's fair to say stronger rules on ownership apply to football than to other companies," he added.

"This is absolutely right given the special nature of the game.

"I was also reassured that new owners are continuing to invest in youth and community schemes that are in the long-term interest of the club and the game as a whole."

Caborn also said the Government will consider any proposals to toughen up the rules.