Registration of Interest for Conference Leagues Operator
Interested parties are invited to submit a Registration of Interest in operating the new Conference Layer of the men's football pyramid in Northern Ireland.
Registrations of Interest open at noon on Wednesday 8 May 2024 and close at noon on Wednesday 15 May 2024. All those interested parties who have submitted a Registration of Interest will be emailed the application pack by close of business on Friday 17 May 2024. The main contact email provided on the Registration of Interest will be emailed the application pack.
A supplementary background information document is available on the Irish FA website regarding the men's football pyramid restructure. We would recommend that you read this document prior to submitting your Registration of Interest. You can view it by clicking the link below:
Restructure of the Men’s Pyramid – Background
The Irish FA is committed to delivering an objective outlined in its Corporate Strategy (2022-27) to “transform the football pyramid to create a clear pathway for ambitious clubs”.
In accordance with this objective, the Irish FA is undertaking a significant restructure of the men's football pyramid in Northern Ireland to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the men’s amateur game.
The restructure presents an opportunity to ‘reset’ the football pyramid and provide an improved pathway for ambitious clubs to be promoted to the elite levels of the amateur game, with the potential for future progression to the professional game.
This restructure includes the introduction of a new Conference Layer to allow clubs to compete at a national level directly below the NIFL Premiership and Championship.
Following a consultation process the Irish FA has identified a need to develop consistent league formats and fixture calendars for the top tiers of the amateur game, and to establish a dependable mechanism for promotion and relegation across the highest levels of the men's amateur and professional game.
The Irish FA will support the appointed league operator who will confirm the application process for interested clubs and the composition of leagues for commencement in season 2026-27.
The Conference Layer will be governed by agreed rules and regulations which will modernise and standardise the approach of all leagues within the performance game.