Summary

At the end of the 2003/04 season, we will see a major restructure in the leagues below the Football Conference.

Currently we have a 1-3-5-15 pyramid with 205 teams in the top 3 steps.

For next season we will have a 1-2-3-4-15 structure and within a few seasons a 1-2-3-4-12 structure as the 15 step 5 leagues reduce to 12. The last part of this (to reduce step 5 to 12 leagues) is stated as an FA intention and no plans are published yet.  There will be 220 teams in the top 4 steps so 15 teams will move up from the new step 5.

There will not be a direct link between any two leagues for promoted and relegated teams. Instead, once the promoted and relegated teams are known at the end of each season, the league boundaries will be drawn based on the geographical locations of all teams at that particular level.

The Isthmian league are currently taking legal action against the FA for the way in which the restructuring plans were made. Basically they wish to retain the 1-3-5 scenario. The other leagues have issued the following statement.

Plans for Next Season

Team allocation at the end of 03/04

Once the teams at each step are known then teams will be allocated to divisions based on geographical location.

Step	Leagues	Total	Allocation of clubs
One	Football Conference	22	Relegated from Football League	2
			Clubs finishing in top 19 places in FC (excluding those 2 promoted to FL3)	17
			1 promoted from ILP. 1 from SLP and 1 from NPLP	3
Two	Football Conference North Football Conference South	44	Relegated from Conference	3
			Clubs finishing in top 13 places in ILP, SLP & NPLP (excluding those promoted to FC)	36
			Playoffs	5
NB. The numbers quoted in the right hand column of step 2 & 3 assumes that no SLE, SLW, IL1N, IL1S or NPL1 club wins a playoff place. If this were the case these figures would change accordingly.
Three	Isthmian League Premier Division   Southern League Premier Division   Northern Premier League Premier Division	66	ILP clubs not in step 2	9
			SLP clubs not in step 2	7
			NPLP clubs not in step 2	9
			Clubs finishing in top 7 places in SLE & SLW	14
			Clubs finishing in top 6 places in IL1N & IL1S	12
			Clubs finishing in top 13 places in NPL1	13
			Playoff between 8th position clubs in SLE & SLW	1
			Playoff between 7th position clubs in IL1N & IL1S	1
Four	Isthmian League Division One Southern League Eastern Division Southern League Western Division Northern Premier League Division One	88	IL1S and IL1N clubs not in step 3 (excluding clubs relegated to step 5)	31
			SLE and SLW clubs not in step 3 (excluding clubs relegated to step 5)	25
			NPL1 clubs not in step 3 (excluding clubs relegated to level 5)	6
			Clubs promoted from step 5 in the "normal" way	11
			Clubs "applying" from step 5	15

Normal promotion and relegation will take place to/from the new step 4 at the end of the season. Clubs from the new level 5 may also apply to join the new step 4 but no more than two clubs (whether promoted normally or applying) from each level 5 league will be allowed to make the step up. This may be waived to allow more "Northern" clubs to join step 4 to adjust the imbalance. If there are more than 15 applicants, then selection will be based on league finishing position, ground grading and financial stability. If there are less than 15 applicants then the relegated clubs will be able to reapply.