English football ‘on edge of financial disaster', says regulator

14 Oct 2026

Independent Football Regulator finds almost every club in England's top five leagues made losses last year, while 66% could not survive 90 days without new owner funding

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR), established under the Football Governance Act 2025 to oversee men’s professional football in England, has stated that the sport is ‘standing on the edge of financial disaster’.

In a stark 245-page report, the IFR examined the financial position of clubs in England's top five football divisions, spanning the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the National League.

Overall, 94% of clubs across England's top five divisions were loss-making in 2025-26, while 66% said they could not survive more than 90 days without owner funding.

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