Thank you for your request. We received your request on 20 July 2026 and have considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”).
Your request
“Have you ever been asked to make a determination about any individual linked with Preston North End FC?
Are there any determinations for the club currently in process.”
The IFR’s response
The IFR carries out suitability assessments of new owners and senior managers of regulated clubs under Part 4 of the Football Governance Act 2025 (the ‘Act’). Details of the IFR’s rules and guidance relating to the process can be found at: Owners, Directors, and Senior Executives | Independent Football Regulator.
Once determinations are made, these are published on IFR’s website and available at ODSE Determinations.
As at the date of the request, the IFR has not made and published any determinations relating to owners or officers of Preston North End FC.
Please note that details of timescales for carrying out a determination are set out within the guidance documents detailed above.
Part 5 of the Act also imposes several duties upon clubs including obtaining approval from the IFR in relation to certain matters. Once determinations are made, under Part 5 of the Act, these are published and can be found
here. We can confirm that a determination has been made under Part 5 of the Act. Details can be accessed via the link provided. We have interpreted your requests for information relating to the ODSE process under Part 4 of the Act.
We have confirmed above the position in relation to any completed IFR ODSE assessments regarding Preston, which would be published on the IFR’s website. However, we have addressed below your request as far as it relates to ongoing or potential ODSE assessments.
The IFR relies on of the FOIA which states that the duty to confirm or deny holding information under FOIA does not arise if the confirmation or denial would or would be likely to prejudice any of the matters that fall under section 31(1).
This includes under section 31(1)(g) the exercise by any public authority of its functions under section 31(2).
Section 31(1)(1)(g) – Law Enforcement
In this case, the IFR considers that confirmation or denial of this information would be likely to prejudice the exercise of its functions falling within section 31(2) (c) and (d).
The IFR will engage with clubs and/or individuals regarding the ownership of clubs, potential changes in ownership (including the details, progress and timing of any such changes), and matters relating to the IFR’s assessment of suitability. This includes preliminary discussions that may not necessarily result in a formal application being made. The IFR relies on free and frank engagement with clubs/individuals, and access to timely and complete information. Any confirmation or denial of holding information about engagement with clubs and/or applicants would be likely to deter open and timely engagement with the IFR.
The IFR is alert to the commercially sensitive and highly confidential nature of these transactions. This is acknowledged at paragraph 3.8 of the IFR’s ODSE Guidance, which states:
“The IFR recognises that potential transactions might be commercially sensitive and be subject to confidentiality obligations. The IFR will not publicise or share any details relating to a notification.”
Confirming or denying that a prospective owner has engaged with the IFR would be likely to have significant adverse impact on the willingness of clubs and applicants to engage with the IFR. Any confirmation or denial would be likely to lead to heightened media interest, speculation and potentially incorrect inferences being drawn from any confirmation or denial. This may lead to individuals and clubs being less willing to openly engage with IFR. In turn, this is likely to negatively impact the IFR’s ability to effectively oversee its ODSE functions under Part 4 of the Act.
Whilst statutory mechanisms exist to compel the provision of information from clubs and applicants, this is not always the most effective way for IFR to carry out its functions. As such, the IFR relies heavily on the voluntary provision of information to perform its functions.
This is further supported by the IFR’s Information Gathering and Enforcement Guidance which is applicable to information gathering for ODSE suitability assessments and was developed following public consultation. We refer you in particular to paragraphs 65 and 66. As described, voluntary cooperation is an important part of the IFR’s regime.
The IFR’s functions would be likely to be prejudiced by confirmation or denial of whether it holds information falling within the scope of the request, as it would undermine trust, resulting in clubs and/or individuals being less likely to co-operate with the IFR in a timely, open, and frank manner. Routine public disclosure of whether parties have engaged with the IFR, and of the status or progress of any engagement, would be likely to discourage engagement due to concerns over confidentiality given the inherently private nature of these transactions. This would ultimately have a real and significant impact on the IFR and impede the IFR’s ability to carry out its statutory functions.
This is further supported by the IFR’s Information Gathering and Enforcement Guidance which is applicable to information gathering for ODSE suitability assessments and was developed following public consultation. We refer you in particular to paragraphs 65 and 66. As described, voluntary cooperation is an important part of the IFR’s regime.
The IFR’s functions would be likely to be prejudiced by confirmation or denial of whether it holds information falling within the scope of the request, as it would undermine trust, resulting in clubs and/or individuals being less likely to co-operate with the IFR in a timely, open, and frank manner. Routine public disclosure of whether parties have engaged with the IFR, and of the status or progress of any engagement, would be likely to discourage engagement due to concerns over confidentiality given the inherently private nature of these transactions. This would ultimately have a real and significant impact on the IFR and impede the IFR’s ability to carry out its statutory functions.
The prospect of disclosure of non-public information by the IFR, including confirmation or denial of such information, could also have an impact on investors’ willingness to take part in the IFR’s process. The IFR’s objectives set out at Section 6 of the Act relate primarily to the financial soundness and resilience of football clubs. The IFR is also required under Section 7 of the Act to avoid adverse effects on financial investment in English football. With these in mind, it is not in the public interest for the IFR to either disclose information or to confirm or deny holding information about corporate transactions which remain subject to regulatory scrutiny. In the IFR’s view, adopting this position (where the IFR is required to review and determine the suitability of every incoming owner across 116 clubs) would be likely to have the impact of deterring investment and thus impact the IFR’s ability to carry out its functions and meet its objectives.
The IFR has robust processes and procedures as outlined in its published documents, enabling the public to have confidence in the way the IFR carries out its functions and engages with clubs and/or individuals. It would, therefore, not be in the public interest to routinely confirm or deny whether applications have been made or status of any such applications which could undermine the IFR’s functions.
The IFR’s conclusion on the public interest test
Having regard to the matters set out above, the IFR considers that the public interest factors support neither confirming nor denying whether it holds the requested information.
Next steps
If you are unhappy with the response to your request for information, you can ask the IFR to carry out an internal review of its response. If you would like the IFR to carry out an internal review, please let us know within 40 working days.
If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The easiest way to lodge a complaint is through the ICO website:
www.ico.org.uk/foicomplaints.
