The Independent Football Regulator: What It Means for Southport FC and the Role of Supporters

English football is on the cusp of sweeping reform. The introduction of an Independent Football Regulator, through the Football Governance Act, represents the most significant shift in how clubs are run since the game turned professional. While the National League North is not currently within scope of the regulator, preparing now is not only sensible, but essential if the club is to harbor any promotion ambitions in the near future.

The regulator has been created to tackle the long-standing problems that have undermined the credibility and stability of English football, from financial mismanagement to a lack of fan voice.

“This is about ensuring that clubs are run sustainably and that fans have a real say in the future of their clubs. The regulator will have the teeth it needs to act where things go wrong.” (Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)

The new body will operate independently from the Football Association and the leagues. It will apply to all clubs from the Premier League down to the National League. Southport, currently in the National League North, falls just outside the remit. But if promotion is achieved, the club would immediately need to comply. It is unclear whether the National League board will pass rule to insist that all of its member clubs comply with the bill. We have reached out for comment but at the time of publication have received no reply.

“We are determined to ensure that no club ever again faces the kind of existential threat that befell Bury or Derby. This is about safeguarding the future, not just for the big clubs, but for every community club up and down the country.” (Martyn Ziegler, who will chair the regulator)

What the Regulator Will Expect from Clubs

If Southport reaches the National League, the regulator’s powers and requirements would apply straight away. These include:

Licensing

Mandatory to compete: All clubs within the regulator’s scope will need to obtain and maintain a licence in order to compete
Conditional on Compliance: The licence is tied to ongoing compliance with the regulator’s standards across finance, governance, supporter engagement and heritage protection.
Failure to Comply: If a club falls short of requirements, the regulator may suspend or revoke its license, effectively removing the right to operate at that level.

Financial Sustainability

Budgets and Forecasts: Clubs must submit detailed budgets and multi-year forecasts demonstrating financial viability
Risk Management: Processes must be in place to identify financial risks and plan for contingencies
Transparency: Regular financial reporting must be shared with the regulator
Audits: Independent scrutiny of financial controls and accounts may be required. Note that Southport have only offered unaudited accounts since 2018.

Governance and Ownership

Fit and Proper Tests: All prospective owners and directors must pass statutory assessments regarding their conduct, finances and business history. Incumbent owners and directors will not automatically be tested, but the IFR will have powers to test and remove incumbents should they be found to be unsuitable. This allows the IFR to tackle concerns about unsuitable owners and directors responsible for the financial mismanagement of clubs.
Ownership Records: Clubs must keep full and accurate records of all directors, shareholders and stakeholders. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act introduced in 2023 also included under its new “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offense, a need for companies to record the full names of shareholders in their register – not just initials. This may present a challenge for a company like Southport Football Club Limited with such a diverse range of shareholders built up over 40 years.
Governance Code: A formal governance structure, including minutes, policies and oversight processes, must be adopted

Fan Engagement

Structured Consultation: Clubs must maintain formal channels for consulting fans on major decisions
Documentation: Records of consultation, such as meeting minutes or survey responses, must be available
Transparency: Supporters must be able to see how their feedback has been considered and acted upon

Heritage Protection

Approval for Major Changes: Any alterations to the club’s name, badge, colours or stadium will require regulatory sign-off
Security: Clause 46 restricts owners from using grounds as security for a loan or other liability. The IFR has final approval and must be satisfied that such a move “would not undermine the financial sustainability of the club”
Heritage Register: Clubs must identify and protect key assets linked to their history and identity

Regulatory Compliance

Annual Statement: Each club must file an annual compliance report
Named Officer: A specific individual must be appointed to oversee regulatory responsibilities and liaise with the regulator

What This Means for Southport FC

While not currently in scope of the regulator, Southport would need to meet all of the above requirements if promoted. This could happen within a single season. The club must therefore be IFR-ready, both to ensure a smooth transition and to attract the kind of investment, commercial support and goodwill that comes with demonstrating good governance. The National League have not yet passed any comment to members about any intentions they might have to insist upon compliance as a condition of membership – but it would not be unusual for them to consider it to ensure parity across the competition as a whole, both at National and Regional level. Unless an EGM was called, that would require a motion to be passed by its members at the next AGM, which will not take place until the first week of June 2026.

Irrespective, steps such as adopting a governance code, improving financial controls and strengthening supporter consultation can be introduced now. Waiting until promotion is secured may be too late.

The Role of Supporters’ Trusts: Relevance, Responsibility and Risk

The Independent Football Regulator places structured supporter engagement at the heart of its remit. That engagement is expected to be ongoing, transparent and based on a formal relationship between the club and a recognised, democratic supporters’ body, typically a supporters’ trust.

For Southport FC, this presents a clear challenge. The existing trust, ‘Trust in Yellow’, has been inactive for some time. Unless it is revived or replaced by a functioning alternative, the club would struggle to meet the required standards if promoted to the National League.

This is not just about ticking a regulatory box. A supporters’ trust provides the structure through which fans can be consulted on major decisions such as ticket pricing, club identity, stadium use and ownership. It offers a channel for feedback, scrutiny and collaboration. Without it, the club’s supporters lack formal representation, and the regulator may conclude that engagement is insufficient.

8 (1) A fan consultation condition is a condition requiring a club to carry out regular consultation on relevant matters with —
(a) persons elected by the club’s fans to represent their views, or
(b) persons otherwise appearing to the IFR to represent the views of the club’s fans.

(https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0266/240266.pdf – Schedule 5: Mandatory licence conditions)

The risk is real. If a club cannot show meaningful supporter input through a recognised body, it may be judged non-compliant. This could delay or complicate the licensing process.

The harsh truth is that most supporters already know this. But time and again, responsibility is left hanging. The regulator is not going to accept well-meaning conversations on Port Chat as a substitute for structure.

Whatever people may feel about how the trust was managed or mismanaged in the past, that cannot become an excuse for doing nothing now. A supporters’ trust is not a protest group or a last resort. It is a structure for involvement. Its purpose is to give fans a formal, recognised role in how the club is run. Not to oppose the club, but to support it properly and hold it to account when needed. That role will become essential under the new regulatory framework, regardless of who owns the club or how well things appear to be going.

There are fans with the skills and experience to make this work. Some have done it before. Others care enough to step forward. It will take time and effort, but if Southport supporters want the club to survive, the moment to act is now.

There was an announcement earlier this week that the club will be organising away travel this season. That might seem harmless, and is a gesture that will not only be appreciated by the players who will be boosted by the additional travelling support but welcomed by those seeking to avail themselves of a regular facility that has not existed for a number of years. But it underlines the core problem. Away travel is an activity that sits better with a supporters’ body. When that body is inactive, the responsibility either falls awkwardly onto the club or is simply neglected. A functioning trust exists to bridge that gap, to coordinate these efforts, represent the fanbase and lighten the load on the football club itself.

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has played a pivotal role in the journey towards independent regulation. As the national voice of football fans in England and Wales, the FSA was central to the fan-led review process and has continued to push for stronger protections around supporter consultation, club heritage and financial sustainability. Its advocacy helped shape many of the core principles now embedded in the Football Governance Bill. Southport Central is proud to be an affiliate member of the FSA and supports its ongoing efforts to strengthen the voice of supporters across the game.

The Independent Football Regulator will reshape how football clubs operate across England. Southport FC may not yet be directly affected, but promotion could bring that moment sooner than expected. Preparing now is the responsible and strategic choice.

A functioning trust gives supporters a seat at the table before decisions are made. It creates legitimacy, continuity and accountability. Without it, influence becomes fragmented and informal. That is not good enough in the new landscape football is entering.

In the new era of football governance, doing nothing is no longer an option.

2 - 2 v AFC Telford United (A) 06/12/2025

The Independent Football Regulator: What It Means for Southport FC and the Role of Supporters