About ISR-GEM
ISR-GEM helps football clubs understand their regulatory readiness, identify material gaps and give their Boards a clear, evidence-based route to improvement.
Evidence before opinion.
Created by Ian Herd, ISR-GEM applies more than 30 years of regulated-industry experience in governance, assurance, risk management, change control and audit readiness to the challenges facing professional football. Meet the founder.
Why clubs can trust the approach
ISR-GEM does not rely on unsupported opinion. Its controlled methodology is built around:
Documented assessment and scoring rules
Defined evidence acceptance criteria
Traceability from requirements to conclusions
Independent review of material judgements
Version-controlled reports and records
Regulatory change control
Clear ownership and Board approval trails
The core principle is simple
No evidence, no credit.
Every conclusion must be supported by relevant, current and controlled evidence. Limitations, assumptions and evidence gaps are recorded transparently.
Independent by design
ISR-GEM is an independent governance-readiness and evidence-management solution. It is not part of, appointed by, accredited by or endorsed by the Independent Football Regulator, any football league or governing body.
Scope of support
ISR-GEM supports a club's internal preparation. It does not:
- Grant or determine an IFR licence
- Guarantee regulatory acceptance
- Certify that a club is compliant or licence-ready
- Replace official IFR rules, guidance or submissions
- Provide legal or statutory audit opinions
- Assume the responsibilities of the club's Board or management
Regulatory decisions remain with the IFR. Governance accountability remains with the club.
ISR-GEM provides the controlled record a Board needs to demonstrate its own readiness — never a substitute for the regulator's judgement or the club's own accountability.
Controlled and kept current
ISR-GEM methodologies, scoring rules, assessment tools and reports are subject to formal ownership, review, approval and version control. Regulatory developments are assessed through a controlled change process so that affected materials can be reviewed, updated and reissued with a clear audit trail.
Security and confidentiality
Club information is handled according to defined access, confidentiality, retention and data-handling requirements. Sensitive evidence is only requested within an agreed scope and is made available to authorised users and reviewers. Specific technology and security assurances are published only after the relevant controls have been implemented and verified.
Professional expertise
Where specialist legal, financial, regulatory or technical advice is required, ISR-GEM may work with appropriately qualified professionals within clearly defined roles. Partners and advisers will only be named after their appointment and authority to publish the relationship have been formally confirmed.
Controlled evidence. Clear decisions. Stronger governance.
ISR-GEM gives clubs a transparent and defensible route from regulatory uncertainty to accountable Board action.