Some EFL clubs beggar belief - Walsall's Pomlett

What the report says

Walsall co-chairman Leigh Pomlett has used a fans’ forum in Bescot Stadium to warn that English football’s finances are in a perilous state, after the Independent Football Regulator’s first State of the Game report said 94% of clubs made losses in the 2025-26 season. Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Pomlett said the report shows the sport is “on the edge” and argued that some clubs are operating in ways that are unsustainable. He said Walsall are in better shape than many others, but still face the need for spending cuts if they are to meet future IFR operating licence requirements.\n\nPomlett described the findings as a sign that many clubs may need to change how they are run, including some in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the National League. He said losses across the game are huge and that some clubs could not survive long without fresh cash. The comments were made at a time when Walsall, a League Two promotion contender, are being urged to balance ambition with financial discipline.\n\nBBC Sport reported that Pomlett’s remarks came amid wider concern about football’s financial model and the regulator’s growing influence. In general terms, the IFR is being set up to increase oversight of club finances and governance, with the aim of reducing the risk of collapse or reckless overspending. Pomlett said the coming changes could be among the biggest shifts in the industry since the Premier League was formed.