-
Jeff Carlisle
The USL has appointed Tony Scholes, the chief football officer of the English Premier League, to lead its new Division One league, set to launch in 2028, as confirmed by sources to ESPN.
Scholes will officially assume his role in the summer of 2026 after completing his obligations with the current EPL season, with an announcement anticipated as soon as Monday.
In March, the USL revealed plans to establish a new top-tier league, which will be positioned above the existing USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two. This league will include a promotion and relegation system involving the Championship and League One.
According to sources, Scholes will manage the daily operations of the new league, develop its structure, and fine-tune the promotion and relegation details. A spokesperson for USL declined to comment.
The hiring of Scholes was first reported by The Athletic.
Scholes has a long-standing relationship with USL CEO Paul McDonough, dating back over ten years to when McDonough was an agent at Wasserman Media Group and Scholes was the chief executive of Stoke City during his 17-year tenure. Scholes will also play a key role in determining the teams that will make up the USL’s upper tier, including which current clubs will be promoted and which new teams will join the league.
Once that selection process is finalized, he will engage with the division’s owners to discuss team performance in relation to profitability and scheduling. He will collaborate closely with USL Championship president Jeremy Alumbaugh and League One president Lee O’Neill.
Meanwhile, the league is advancing its plans for the new league and promotion/relegation framework, aiming to present more details to team owners in December. The decision to adopt a promotion/relegation system comes as the USL seeks to enhance fan engagement, especially in comparison to Major League Soccer.
This move has also been seen as a way to capitalize on the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
“I truly believe it’s a game changer for USL,” stated Rhode Island FC owner Brett Johnson in May. “I’m a huge supporter of the promotion/relegation concept and the implications of meaningful matches. I think that component is essentially missing in North America, not only in MLS but across USL as well. This represents a distinctly alternative league and framework that aligns more closely with global football standards.”
Additionally, the USL recently announced the sale of a minority stake in the league to BellTower Partners, with its founder and CEO, Kewsong Lee, appointed as vice-chair of the league.
The USL is also in discussions with the USL Players Association regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for players in the USL Championship, with the current agreement set to expire at the end of this year.