The Independent Football Regulator has approved James Taylor as West Ham’s new CFO, who can now join the West Ham board as company secretary and a director.
He replaces Andy Mollet, who retired in the summer after 14 years at West Ham.
Independent Football Regulator Approves James Taylor
IFR Outcome: The IFR determined that James Taylor is suitable for the role of Officer at West Ham United.
James Taylor (the applicant) submitted an application to the IFR for approval to carry out the role of SMF3: Chief Finance Function at West Ham United Football Club Limited (West Ham United).
Having assessed the application, under section 29 of the Football Governance Act 2026 (the Act), the IFR has determined that the applicant is suitable to be an officer, SMF3: Chief Finance Function, of West Ham United.
This means that, having considered the factors in section 37 of the Act and the IFR’s ODSE Rules, the IFR has concluded that the applicant:
- Is financially sound.
- Has the requisite honesty and integrity to carry out their proposed role at the club.
- Has the requisite competence to carry out their proposed role at the club.
Requests for review
Under section 82 of the Act, a person whom the IFR considers is directly affected by an IFR suitability determination may ask for it to be reviewed by a committee of the IFR Board who were not involved in making the original determination.
Any request must be made within 7 days of this determination’s publication date (or, if earlier, the date on which the IFR notified that person of this determination).
Further guidance on who the IFR may consider to be directly affected by its determinations, and how to request a review, can be found here.
After any requested review has been conducted, a concerned person, or other person with a sufficient interest, has a further right under section 84 of the Act to appeal the reviewer’s decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
The IFR was formed in 2025 and includes former West Ham Executive Director Tara Warren as a non-executive director on its board.