On 23 September 2025, the Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust (LOFT) was pleased to join the Leyton Orientear fanzine and representatives of other fan groups (including the Leyton Orient Supporters Club, RainbOs, and the Leyton Orient Women’s Supporters Group) when meeting Martyn Henderson, Chief Operating Officer of the new Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

The IFR will be legally established on 1 November 2025 with bases in Manchester and London. Its powers will be ‘switched on’ by the Government in the coming months, with the first phase of consultations having begun this year. The second phase of consultations will take place early next year, with more powers coming into force from summer 2026 with all clubs provisionally licensed by the beginning of the 27/28 season.

The IFR’s core purpose is to ensure the financial sustainability of the 116 clubs in the top five leagues. Its powers are manifold, from ensuring that owners and senior executives at clubs are fit, proper, and competent – through to the protection of clubs’ heritage: a particularly important consideration for Orient with a likely stadium move on the horizon.

Orient, like many other Clubs, has a lot to do before it is ready for the requirements the Regulator will place upon it, and Martyn emphasised how central fan engagement will be to a Club’s licence to operate: every Club will be tested on whether it is truly consulting with fans rather than merely communicating at them.  

We believe that the arrival of the Regulator is an enormously positive development which will amplify the voice of supporters, and improve the way Clubs (including Orient) are run.