Jeff Stelling unleashes a fresh rant about the National League format with a new plea calling for change live on talkSPORT.
In a gone viral clip this week, he spoke of York City being on 104 points and Rochdale on 102 points, saying the system “has got to change” with the potential that either side could miss out on promotion despite the incredible achievement of three digit totals.
It isn’t the first time he has spoken out on this, previously giving his support to the league’s #3UP campaign debate.
He said: “York City, 104 points, and it’s Rochdale 102 points, so once again a side with more than 100 points may not go up to the Football League on the basis that only one side is promoted. And thew last game of the sees, Rochdale v York.
Asked if he thinks it has got to change, he replied: “Course it’s got to change, of course it’s got to the change. Time and time again, sides go up from the National League and do brilliantly a lot of them go straight through, York get big crowds too, a lot more that a lot of sides in League Two and League One get.
“If they don’t go up, it’ll be a disaster as far as the football club is concerned. But 104 and 102 points, What a final day that’s going to be, Rochdale vs York.”
😡 “It’s got to change”
🤯 “It will be a disaster”
Jeff Stelling’s passionate rant about the National League format! 😤 pic.twitter.com/RqPBGeMT9W
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 13, 2026
Back in 2025, Jeff was announced as the National League’s 3UP campaign ambassador. He said: “For more than 60 years Hartlepool United have been a huge part of my life and for most of those 60 years it has been a Football League club. I am in touch with many fans, and I know we are all desperate for them to get into the EFL once again.
“However, under the current unfair system it is altogether possible that this may not happen again in my lifetime! I don’t know what the EFL so afraid of.”
“A trip to Barrow or Newport on a wet, cold Tuesday night may not be everyone’s idea of footballing nirvana, but it is mine!
“Kicking off three minutes late is a great way of highlighting this renewed push to try and secure a third promotion place and I know all the other 71 National League clubs are full square behind it, just as Hartlepool and their fans are.”
In a video last month, he said: “The National League is just littered with big clubs. Carlisle, ex-top flight Southend and Scunthorpe, once in the second level. Others like Pools and York and Rochdale, regulars in the EFL. And of course we want to be back there.
“The problem is the EFL will not open the door wide enough to let us in. There’s just no argument against 3 up and 3 down.
“Look at the average attendances in the National League, Southend over 8,000, Carlisle over 7,00, York over 6,000, there are 5 sides for goodness sake in League Two at the moment who average under 3,000. It is a national sporting scandal.
“So we Poolies and the rest of the National League, we need to be knocking hard at that door. For goodness sake, open it wider, let some more of us in.”
Here’s the social media reaction after Jeff Stelling unleashes a fresh rant about the National League format with a plea for change…
@dufflecoatdan: For those who have said “turkeys won’t vote for Christmas”, well, three up from the NL makes getting league status back that much easier. Although the NL should just be made League Three and have done with it, almost all NL teams are now full-time, professional clubs.
@KORBIM50: Should have changed after the Wrexham Notts. County situation both over 100 points ridiculous #notts
@PunditSid: The point argument is valid. Multiple times now teams have been over or around 100 points and not gone up (York last year). The crowds part is irrelevant as its about performance on the pitch now how loud your fans are. But I agree. Should be 3 up
@davidroyle1: Not until the NL adopt the same rules on finance and grounds as the EFL
@dalemellor11: All divisions should be 3 up 3 down through the pyramid, standard. The 4 up and down between Lge 1 and 2 is also ridiculous. Standardise it.
@WillMay04_: As much as I agree, bloke would not give a fuck if Hartlepool weren’t down here
@ADS_DRFC: Let them follow the same financial rules for a few seasons as the EFL then have a vote on it.
@ViolentFluid: Will the national league give the same funding and protection to relegated clubs that the ELP does for their academies so they are not forced to close them? Will the same financial rules be applied? If the answer to one or both is no then that should be the same answer to 3up
@TS_Minstermen: It’s absurd. 100+ points and it still comes down to playoffs for either York or Rochdale. One game decides it. Oldham were 27 points behind last year. Southend could be 30+ behind this year. Not a dig at Oldham or Southend – they’ve earned their place. That’s the system. But how is that fair? How is that competition?
@LRbix: It’s actually a crime that EFL aren’t budging with this #3UP campaign. 2 going up just isn’t going to work with the quality in the National League at it’s best already. Having the case that potentially one side who has a 100 points and doesn’t go up doesn’t sit right with me
@MinsterMerch: Regardless of the outcome of this season I will always back #3up. The only thing we can do is keep banging the drum. It will change eventually… #ycfc
@DarranPearce: It wont be a disaster will it. Its only the 2nd time that 2 teams have got over 100 points and Jeff is acting like it happens all the time. Crowd size should have nothing to do with it either
@jonnyescott: Happened the other year with Wrexham and Notts County too. Can confidently say, from a man who watches a lot of that league, every NL team in the top eight would at the very least stay up in League 2 this season
@jnd_90: EFL sadly won’t agree to automatic 3UP, therefore: Top 2 up automatically. 22nd in L2 and 3rd in NL get bye then home semi. 3rd-7th as it is now. Try it for 5yrs. If 22nd can’t beat 3rd-7th in NL routinely, esp at home, they don’t deserve to stay up. Then introduce #3UP
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