FA Announcement - Promotion and Relegation in the National League System
Fri 25th May 2018 | Announcements | By Ian Templeman
As previously announced, the FA is introducing four new divisions to the National League System from the 2018-19 season.
There will be an additional division at Step 3, one at Step 4, and two at Step 6, one of which will be overseen by our League.
As part of this process, the FA has announced that there will be new methods of deciding promotion and relegation between each of the Steps in the National League System, which will take effect from the beginning of the 2019-20 season.
A summary of the main points regarding how this affects Clubs at our level, Step 5 and Step 6. from season 2019-20 is as follows.
Relegation from Step 4 and promotion from Step 5
At the end of each season the Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the seven Step 4 divisions will be relegated to the most geographically appropriate Step 5 division.
These clubs will be replaced by the 14 Clubs finishing in first position in each of the 14 Step 5 divisions.
In addition, a series of play-off matches will be played between the Clubs finishing in second position each of the 14 Step 5 divisions, pairing clubs on the most appropriate geographic basis.
The seven winners of each tie will then play another play-off match against the third from bottom Club from each Step 4 division, with the winners of that game playing at Step 4 in the following season.
Relegation from Step 5 and promotion from Step 6
At the end of each season, the Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the 14 Step 5 divisions will be relegated and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 6.
These Clubs will be replaced by the 19 Clubs finishing in first position in each of the leagues at Step 6, together with the required number of Clubs finishing in second position at the end of the season on a points-per-match ratio.
Relegation from Step 6 and promotion from Step 7
The clubs finishing in the bottom two positions in Step 6 divisions will be considered to be in relegation positions, which will be subject to 38 Step 7 Leagues promoting 1 club each.
No more than 38 Clubs will be promoted from Step 7. If more than 38 Clubs are eligible for promotion, they will be chosen on a points-per-match basis.
Other points of note
At Steps 2-5 the Club finishing in last place in the league table at the end of the season will be relegated and not reprieved. Below Step 5, the Clubs to be reprieved will be at the sole discretion of the National Leagues Committee.
It may be necessary from time to time to move Clubs laterally, from one division to another, at the same Step. If so, the Clubs likely to be affected shall be notified and given the opportunity to present a case if that Club does not want to be moved laterally. The final decision will rest with a sub-committee of the National Leagues Committee.
As play offs at Step 5 do not come in until 2019/20 season, for season 2018-19 just the 14 champion clubs from Step 5 will be promoted.
Therefore, if two North West clubs finish in the bottom 2 places in the Step 4 Evo Stik League West, which is quite possible, lateral movement of clubs between our Premier Division and other Step 5 leagues will apply at the end of season 2018-19.
FA Announcement - Promotion and Relegation in the National League System
Fri 25th May 2018 | Announcements
By Ian Templeman
As previously announced, the FA is introducing four new divisions to the National League System from the 2018-19 season.
There will be an additional division at Step 3, one at Step 4, and two at Step 6, one of which will be overseen by our League.
As part of this process, the FA has announced that there will be new methods of deciding promotion and relegation between each of the Steps in the National League System, which will take effect from the beginning of the 2019-20 season.
A summary of the main points regarding how this affects Clubs at our level, Step 5 and Step 6. from season 2019-20 is as follows.
Relegation from Step 4 and promotion from Step 5
At the end of each season the Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the seven Step 4 divisions will be relegated to the most geographically appropriate Step 5 division.
These clubs will be replaced by the 14 Clubs finishing in first position in each of the 14 Step 5 divisions.
In addition, a series of play-off matches will be played between the Clubs finishing in second position each of the 14 Step 5 divisions, pairing clubs on the most appropriate geographic basis.
The seven winners of each tie will then play another play-off match against the third from bottom Club from each Step 4 division, with the winners of that game playing at Step 4 in the following season.
Relegation from Step 5 and promotion from Step 6
At the end of each season, the Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the 14 Step 5 divisions will be relegated and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 6.
These Clubs will be replaced by the 19 Clubs finishing in first position in each of the leagues at Step 6, together with the required number of Clubs finishing in second position at the end of the season on a points-per-match ratio.
Relegation from Step 6 and promotion from Step 7
The clubs finishing in the bottom two positions in Step 6 divisions will be considered to be in relegation positions, which will be subject to 38 Step 7 Leagues promoting 1 club each.
No more than 38 Clubs will be promoted from Step 7. If more than 38 Clubs are eligible for promotion, they will be chosen on a points-per-match basis.
Other points of note
At Steps 2-5 the Club finishing in last place in the league table at the end of the season will be relegated and not reprieved. Below Step 5, the Clubs to be reprieved will be at the sole discretion of the National Leagues Committee.
It may be necessary from time to time to move Clubs laterally, from one division to another, at the same Step. If so, the Clubs likely to be affected shall be notified and given the opportunity to present a case if that Club does not want to be moved laterally. The final decision will rest with a sub-committee of the National Leagues Committee.
As play offs at Step 5 do not come in until 2019/20 season, for season 2018-19 just the 14 champion clubs from Step 5 will be promoted.
Therefore, if two North West clubs finish in the bottom 2 places in the Step 4 Evo Stik League West, which is quite possible, lateral movement of clubs between our Premier Division and other Step 5 leagues will apply at the end of season 2018-19.
