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all clubs of Premier League, english football league (EFL) and National League A license will be required to play until 2027–28.
Clubs in these leagues, the top 5 tiers of English football, will be required to demonstrate a number of criteria for the new independent football regulator (IFR).
To secure a provisional license these clubs will need to demonstrate the following.
- the soundness of their financial plans
- How are they connecting with supporters
- How do they meet corporate governance standards
The IFR said 116 clubs from the Premier League, EFL and the first tier of the National League will have to apply for a temporary license next season (2026-27).
Plans for the licensing system were published on Monday, with the IFR saying the arrangement would “go further than anything currently in place by assessing a club’s full financial picture and taking a preventive, risk-based approach”.
A pilot scheme for selected clubs is expected to run from next summer, ahead of the full application window between November 2026 and February 2027.
Licenses will then be issued before the league’s annual general meetings, so that all three competitions have certainty over which clubs are licensed to compete and which are not.
A separate application window for clubs that can secure promotion to the first tier of the National League – and therefore become subject to IFR requirements – will run between the beginning of March and the end of April 2027.
Where clubs cannot demonstrate the soundness of their plans, the regulator will require them to take steps to manage their day-to-day spending more efficiently, increase cash reserves, control costs or reduce debt.
To obtain a provisional licence, a club must submit a personnel statement – including a declaration of who the ultimate owner of the club is – a strategic business plan, and demonstrate that they will meet the mandatory license conditions once on a provisional licence, including submitting a financial plan and corporate governance statement and engaging regularly with fans on relevant matters.
A provisional license can last for three years, although this period can be extended by the IFR if necessary. Clubs must demonstrate that they are consistently meeting mandatory licensing conditions, meaning it is likely to take a full three years to obtain a full licence.
Clubs will have a designated supervisor who can answer any questions as you work your way through the licensing process.
Ensuring the financial sustainability of clubs and their accountability to fans are key cornerstones of the IFR, the creation of which was a central recommendation of the 2021 fan-led review of football.
The IFR will have “last resort” powers to force owners to part with clubs in extreme circumstances where there have been persistent and serious failures to meet licensing conditions.
David Cogan, chairman of the IFR, said: “This latest consultation sets out new requirements that clubs must meet on financial regulation, fan consultation and corporate governance.
“This is a transformational change for football and we will support clubs every step of the way to reinforce these high standards.”