Pyramid Restructuring

Changes to structure

Promotion/Relegation at the end of the 2003/4 Season

• The 2 teams that will make up the Conference (level 5) in 2004/5 will comprise:
  • Two teams relgated from the Football League, division 3.
  • The champions of Southern, Northen Premier and Isthmian Leagues, premier divisions.
  • The 17 clubs currently in the Conference who do not get relegated or promoted at the end of the season.

• The 44 teams that will make up the new Conference North and South (new level 6) in 2004/5 will comprise:
  • Three relegated from the Football Conference
  • Top 13 clubs each from the SLP, NPLP and ILP. (Excluding those promoted to the Conference)
  • Five teams chosen by a series of playoffs, invloving the remaing teams in the SLP, NPLP and ILP, and the champions of their 1st divisions.
  • Details of the playoffs,see Tony Kempster's site. There is little point me reproducing them here.

• The 66 teams that will be in the SLP, NPLP and ILP (new level 7) in 2004/5 will comprise:
  • The 9 ILP, 7 SLP and 9 NPLP teams that do not go into ConN or ConS
  • Top seven clubs each from SLE and SLW.
  • Top six clubs each from IL1N and IL1S.
  • Top 13 clubs from NPL1
  • Playoff between 8th position clubs in SLE & SLW

• The 88 teams that wil make up the SLW, SLE, NPL1 and IL1 (new level 8) in 2004/5 will comprise:
  • 31 clubs from IL1N and IL1S not put in new level 8
  • 25 clubs from SLE and SLW not put in new level 8
  • 6 clubs from NPL1 not put in new level 8
  • 11 clubs from the ICLs (old level 8/new level 9) promted in 'normal' way
  • 15 teams from the ICLs which 'apply' for this one-off.

• Promotion into (new) level 8 - what will happen:
  • Promotion and relegation will take place to/from the new level 8 in the 'normal' way at the end of the season.
  • Clubs from the new level 9 may also apply to join the new level 8 but no more than two clubs (whether promoted normally or applying) from each level 9 league will be allowed to make the step up.
  • This condition may be set aside to increase the number of clubs fom NPL feeder leagues to join level 8. (This is owing to the current defecit of Northern clubs).
  • 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 clubs relegated from this level will be able to reapply.

• N.B.: The numbers quoted for ConN, ConS, SLP, NPLP and ILP assume that no SLE, SLW, IL1N, IL1S or NPL1 club wins a playoff place. If this were the case these figures would change accordingly

Promotion/Relegation from the 2004/5 Season

• Three clubs will be interchanged between the Con and ConN/S:
  • Bottom three clubs from the Conference releagted
  • Two champion clubs of ConN and ConS will be promoted
  • A third club from a series of play-offs between 2nd to 5th in the ConN and ConS will be promoted

• Six clubs will be interchanged between the ConN/S and the SLP, NPLP and ILP
  • Bottom three of ConN and of ConS will be relegated
  • The champions of the SLP, NPLP and ILP will be promoted
  • A second club, from playoffs in 2nd to 5th places in the SLP, NPLP and ILP will be promoted.

• Twelve clubs will be interchanged between the SLP / NPLP / ILP and the SLE / SLW/ NPL1 / IL1
  • Bottom four of SLP/NPLP/ILP relegated
  • The champions and 2nd place clubs of the SLE / SLW / NPL1 / IL1 will be promoted
  • A third club each from playoffs in 3rd to 6th places in the SLE / SLW / NPL1 / IL1 will be promoted.

• Eight clubs will be interchanged between the SLE / SLW / NPL1 / IL1 and the ICLs
  • Bottom two of SLE / SLW / NPL1 / IL1 relegated
  • Champions of the leagues below them eligable for promotion (no playoffs).

Abbreviations