USL Division One Names English Premier League Executive Tony Scholes Inaugural President

The path to promotion and relegation in USL gained some steam

Photo Courtesy of USL

As the United Soccer League looks to implement promotion and relegation, its potential new top-flight league has its first-ever corporate leader.

The USL announced that English Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes will be the president of USL Division One. Scholes was also the former chief executive officer of Stoke City FC.

The first-ever president will oversee the operations of the league and will help to shape its structure, standards, and long-term development as the USL prepares to introduce promotion and relegation. Scholes will begin his role in the Summer of 2026 after concluding his responsibilities at the Premier League.

“I am thrilled to join the USL at such an important moment for the game in America,” Scholes said in a statement. “Having worked in football at every level of the English system, I’ve seen the power of sport and the compelling nature of games that truly matter, week after week. Promotion and relegation create opportunity, consequence, and emotion that capture the imagination of players and fans alike. The chance to help bring that model to the U.S., while developing high-performing leagues and pathways for players, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“The USL has the rare chance to build something from a clean sheet – a league structure rooted in performance, sustainability, and community connection,” he added. “I look forward to working with the league’s leadership and new and existing clubs to establish the standards and systems that will ensure the USL’s long-term success.”

Once enacted, USL would become the first professional sports league in the United States to have promotion and relegation. The goal is to have the new first-division, as well as promotion and relegation, to launch during the 2027-2028 league year.

Division One is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States as the USL Championship is a Division Two league, and USL League One is a Division Three league.