Promotion and relegation is the lifeblood of football at every level of the game, which is why it’s so important for all Clubs to understand what they are playing for, before a ball has been kicked. Despite the FA’s best efforts to define their rules in theory, in the National League System Regulations, in practice the FA’s much vaunted restructuring process has left Clubs and fans alike, scratching their heads as to exactly what fate awaits them at the end of the season.

Starting at the top, we know that the winners of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division will have their fate in their own hands, progressing up to the Southern League. However, for the first time in the League’s history, the Premier Division’s runners-up will find themselves playing off, away from home, against one of the teams finishing third or fourth bottom in the Southern League Division One South. That’s about as simple as it gets!

When it comes to relegation from the Premier Division, the Clubs in the bottom two places ‘will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division of Step 6 for the following Playing Season’. Relatively straight forward, but this season the Premier Division has only 19 teams, not the 20 desired by the FA prior to the restructuring, following the voluntary relegation of Odd Down. So, does this mean only one side is liable for relegation, or will the teams in 18th and 19th still find themselves going down at the end of the season?

The phrase ‘the most geographically appropriate division’ also applies to the winner of the First Division, meaning there’s no guarantee of progression into the Toolstation Western League Premier Division. Only Clubs finishing first in each of the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League are guaranteed to join the Premier Division as it is the only ‘geographically appropriate division at Step 5’. In practise, this means that there is no guarantee that current First Division leaders, Welton Rovers, would continue their 118-year relationship with the Western League, if the Hellenic or Wessex Leagues were deemed more ‘geographically appropriate’ by the FA.

Whilst lateral movement is nothing new within the non-league pyramid, the new Step 6 Play Off format, certainly is. The NLS regulations suggest this play off will see ‘the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two Clubs play each other’. Whilst exact league positions have not been specified, as Clubs in contention for promotion will need the facilities required to make the step up, it is reasonable to assume this process will involve four Clubs, with the second-place side facing the team in fifth and the third placed team playing the side finishing in fourth. The winners of both ties will play off for the right to be placed into the most ‘geographically appropriate division at Step 5’, which again does not necessarily mean promotion into the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

Finally, there is the matter of relegation from the Western League, not a prospect many teams have had to face over recent seasons, but that is likely to change this time around. Clubs finishing in the bottom three positions of the First Division will ‘be liable to relegation’, with the exact number only confirmed ‘once promotion candidates from Feeder Leagues and any vacancies are known’.

The NLS regulations state ‘if reprieves are required the Clubs third from bottom will be ranked on a points per match basis, then goal difference, then goals scored if required. The Clubs with the best points per match will be reprieved’. So, relegation from the First Division is dependent on the number and quality of Clubs wishing to join the League, a possible points per match calculation and then there’s the extra Club. The Western League First Division has 21 teams, so will the FA move to bring this back to 20 and if so, how? Could it be a case of two up, three down?

Regardless of the impact of the pandemic, the restructuring of the non-league pyramid and its repercussions are still very much with us. Promoting Clubs out of the South West Peninsula League has created a domino effect from the Western League into the Hellenic League and potentially into the Wessex League.

Clubs can’t laterally move eastwards unless there are places for them, meaning the ‘pure pyramid’ the FA were looking to create has brought with it the unintended consequence of permanent instability. Will Clubs ever really know which is their most ‘geographically appropriate’ League and what effect will this have on player recruitment, sponsorship and attendances?

Very little in life is certain at the moment and promotion and relegation within the non-league pyramid is no different.

Marcus Brody