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Step 5 Restructuring

Chris Clapham

By Chris Clapham
in Combined Counties Forum

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bomaya Newbie

bomaya

Posted
Posted (edited)

UPDATE ON NLS STEP 5/6 REVIEW

 

The Football Association is now in a position to update Leagues and Clubs on the current position with regard to a review of the Step 5/6 structure of the National League System.

 

There was always the intention, as part of the overall restructure, to align the number of promotion places to Step 4 with the number of relegation places available.

 

With Step 4 now established with 6 Divisions and 12 possible relegation places, the Leagues Committee established a Review Group charged with the task of exploring the possibility of reducing the current 14 Step 5 Divisions down to 12.

 

A consultation process commenced in September with the Review Group meeting individually with each of the Step 5/6 competitions.

 

Following these meetings, it was established that there was a majority of leagues in favour of such a reorganisation taking place at Step 5.

 

At a meeting with all Step 5 leagues held yesterday (8 January) at Burton Albion FC the Review Group presented their current thinking.

 

An example of how a new structure might look was presented.

 

It was emphasised that the example shown included all current Step 5 clubs and did not take into account if the club fully complied with the appropriate grading criteria.

 

There will also be two season’s normal club movements by way of promotion and relegation to take into account. The meeting also highlighted the following:

 

• That every effort should be made to establish 12 Step 5 divisions each of 22 clubs.

• To be included, Clubs must achieve Ground Grading Category F, as independently verified, by 31 March 2013.

• So as to not disadvantage any club, all clubs that meet the F Grade will be included in the new structure and to facilitate this, in the first season, 2013/2014, the number of clubs in each division may vary between 22 and 25.

• By adjustments being made to the number of relegated clubs from Step 5 over the following one or two seasons, numbers would reduce to 22 clubs.

 

The next stage of the consultation process sees all Step 5 clubs invited to attend a series of regional meetings to consider the current situation and have any concerns explained to them.

These meetings are to take place as follows:

 

Sunday 15 January at the Thurrock Hotel, Aveley

Sunday 22 January at The West Riding County FA offices in Leeds

Sunday 29 January at the Leicester Marriott Hotel

Sunday 12 February at Yeovil Town FC

 

Based upon the feedback from both the leagues and clubs meetings the Leagues Committee will determine the way forward.

 

The Review Group will also be looking at Step 6 in more detail in the coming months.

 

Commenting on the project Mike Appleby, Leagues and Clubs Manager, emphasised that this was very much work in progress and that no final decision had been made: “There are a number of inaccurate rumours circulating at the present time and we must await the outcome of the consultation process before any final recommendation is made.

 

“Part of the original aims of the restructure process was to try to equalise the travelling of clubs. It is inevitable therefore that some clubs will find an increase in their travel whilst some will see a reduction.”

 

“The leagues themselves have asked that Step 5 and 6 be reviewed and we are following this through but I reiterate that no decision has been made and will not be made until the consultation process has been completed.”

 

Should any restructure take place it will take effect from season 2013/2014.

Edited by bomaya
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E&E Rich Newbie

E&E Rich

Posted
Posted

It also looks like the biggest problem hasn't been addressed, that of more than one team being promoted from Step 5.

 

Saving a few extra miles on the travelling is admirable but flawed if the opprtunity of progress is denied.

 

There are some very average Step Four clubs up there that gain reprieves every year. This is leading to stagnation both at the foot of Step Four and the top of Step Five. In addition knowing that promotion from Step Five would be difficult for any relegated club, most Step Four clubs will spend above their means in an effort to stay up which will only stretch their finances further.

 

So it looks like the only way any Step Four side is coming down in the near future is by doing it "Windsor style". So much for a pyramid. This is a pyramid with a brick wall halfway up.

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Windsor_Sec Newbie

Windsor_Sec

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E&E Ed, I think if the FA get their way [and they usually do !] then playoffs would eventually be introduced down to Step 5 in line with the rest of the pyramid.

Any Step 4 clubs doing it 'Windsor style' as you put it would be relegated 2 divisions so would end up at Step 6 ! Don't forget Windsor & Eton were not relegated under the insolvency rules but were actually placed at Step 5 [rightly or wrongly] as a new club although I think the FA had some sympathy with the people trying to save the original club who were thwarted at every attempt by the owner of the company who didn't want it saved.

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bomaya Newbie

bomaya

Posted
Posted

Sussex League had their meeting last night to tell their members and somehow this proposal came out of it with Sussex teams dispersed between CCL and Kent. Haven't checked what criteria they've used but here it is:

 

ARUNDEL

2 Badshot Lea

3 Banstead Athletic

4 Chessington & Hook United

5 Colliers Wood United

6 Dorking

7 EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN

8 Epsom & Ewell

9 Guildford City

10 Hanworth Villa

11 HASSOCKS

12 Horley Town

13 HORSHAM YMCA

14 LANCING

15 LINGFIELD

16 Mole Valley SCR

17 Molesey

18 Raynes Park Vale

19 REDHILL

20 SHOREHAM

21 South Park

22 ST FRANCIS RANGERS

23 THREE BRIDGES

24 WORTHING UNITED

 

 

and

 

AFC Uckfield (SCL)

Beckenham Town (KL)

Canterbury City (KL)

Corinthian (KL)

Cray Valley PM (KL)

Crowborough Ath (SCL)

Croydon (CCL)

Deal Town (KL)

Erith & Belvedere (KL)

Erith Town (KL)

Fisher (KL)

Greenwich Borough (KL)

Herne Bay (KL)

Holmesdale (KL)

Lordswood (KL)

Peacehaven & Tels (SCL)

Ringmer (SCL)

Rye United (SCL)

Sevenoaks Town (KL)

Sidley United (SCL)

Tunbridge Wells (KL)

VCD Athletic (KL)

Woodstock Sports (KL)

Worthing United (SCL)

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Chris Clapham Rookie

Chris Clapham

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Posted (edited)

That was nice of them. So where do Camberley go ? Also good luck to Worthing !!!

 

Cambo to Wessex where the other CCL clubs are going?

Edited by Chris Clapham
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Smudge Newbie

Smudge

Posted
Posted

Croydon back with the Kent teams

 

They must really love Croydon down Sussex way,so where would Guernsey Go,and Bedfont Sports which is not far from Hanworth Villa.Was concerned about Guildford,but as they will be promoted this year,they will not be a factor.TALK ABOUT LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN,Sussex have set the benchmark.

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