A bill to establish an independent football regulator has now become law. With that comes action for Leeds United and various other Premier League clubs to ensure they’re ready this significant change.

Frequent calls have been made for an independent regulator to be put in place in English football. This call points to various dire situations including horrid ownership, breakaway ‘closed shop’ competitions, and the financial concerns regarding so many clubs in the 92 and below.

The Football Governance Act has since been put into place to ensure this independent party can help govern the game from the Premier League and down the pyramid.

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For clubs in the Premier League, it’s easy to assume financial disparity is a thing of the past. Especially given the revenue all 20 clubs receive year on year.

The 49ers Enterprises will be hoping Leeds United can establish themselves in the Premier League. (Action Images/Lee Smith)

However, for the 43 Championship and Premier League clubs including Leeds, they are currently not classed as “regulator ready” by a recent report from the 2025 Fair Game Index. Their index measures each club across the following eight criteria:

  • Financial Sustainability;
  • Governance;
  • Transparency;
  • Fan Engagement;
  • Ethics;
  • Diversity;
  • Environment; and
  • Community Engagement.

This is relayed this week by the only ‘regulator ready’ club in the top two divisions – Brighton:

“In what is a huge wake-up call for the football industry, the 2025 Fair Game Index published today (September 10) also paints a potential financial doomsday scenario as almost half of the clubs across the top four divisions are ‘running on empty’. The research shows that 43 clubs have less than one month’s cash reserves to cover their operating costs,” Brighton’s statement reads.

“This year’s Index has been aligned to the criteria that is expected be used by the new Independent Football Regulator, which is likely to be operational before the end of the year having come into law in the summer. The Index identifies a number of trends across the football pyramid as well as recognising patches of good practice and crediting clubs in the strongest position to meet the regulator’s requirements.

“Based on the findings, Brighton & Hove Albion are the only club from both the Premier League and the Championship to be considered ‘Regulator Ready’.”

Leeds United have work to do for independent regulator, but Premier League survival would help massively

Financial sustainability is obviously much more likely if the club stays in the Premier League long-term. The revenue that comes with it would set United up for years to come.

This isn’t the only aspect here, though. But, it is sure to be one of the most pressing matters for the independent regulator to tackle. The amount of clubs that find themselves going south due to rogue ownership is staggering.

One would hope that United have left financial despair behind after our relegation in 2004 and what followed. That being said, an added level of protection is still ideal for clubs in that situation.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!