Post by Tim Munslow on Apr 15, 2019 19:45:09 GMT
Very interesting article in the centre pages of the Non-League Paper yesterday. With the FA aiming to create a true pyramid (i.e. National League at Step 1, 2 leagues at Step 2, then 4-8-16 leagues at lower levels) a certain amount of shuffling is going to have to happen. I have read the article three times and still am not sure if I've fully assimilated the details, but in essence it would seem that there will be fourteen leagues at City's current level of Step 5 next season, the CHAMPIONS of each league being automatically promoted.
So far so good: quite obvious. But then it gets complicated. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams in Northern, North West Counties and Northern Counties East leagues also get automatic promotion (something to do with re-balancing team numbers in those areas). With me so far? Of the 2nd placed clubs in the remaining eleven leagues FOUR with the best PPG (points per game) ratio will be promoted to Step 4, but the other seven will have to play-off against a Step 4 club in what appears to be a one-off game (i.e. not over two legs). It doesn't specify where these games will take place: i.e. do the Step 4 club have home advantage?
If anyone else has read that article and has a different interpretation do let us know: I may not have it right. I haven't considered the possibility of relegation! That, too, is complicated.
So far so good: quite obvious. But then it gets complicated. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams in Northern, North West Counties and Northern Counties East leagues also get automatic promotion (something to do with re-balancing team numbers in those areas). With me so far? Of the 2nd placed clubs in the remaining eleven leagues FOUR with the best PPG (points per game) ratio will be promoted to Step 4, but the other seven will have to play-off against a Step 4 club in what appears to be a one-off game (i.e. not over two legs). It doesn't specify where these games will take place: i.e. do the Step 4 club have home advantage?
If anyone else has read that article and has a different interpretation do let us know: I may not have it right. I haven't considered the possibility of relegation! That, too, is complicated.
