Report emerges on EFL’s stance regarding extra National League promotion place

A report emerges on the EFL’s stance regarding offering an extra National League promotion place, and it could be implemented soon.

As part of the financial reset that chairman Rick Parry is demanding, the English Football League are looking likely to increasing the amount of teams promoted from the National League to three.

The EFL’s talks with the Premier League over receiving funding at an increased and more merit-based amount from the top-flight – known as the so-called New Deal for Football – stay at deadlock.

EXCL: EFL ready to offer National League THIRD promotion place that could start as soon as NEXT season | @MattHughesDM https://t.co/rpBGZIVgfT

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) December 23, 2022

There is however an acknowledgement at the EFL that they also have a responsibility to assist clubs further down the pyramid, the Daily Mail claim.

Many consider offering a promotion spot to the National League as the best way to achieve this goal, especially amongst Championship clubs, as it wouldn’t affect them.

Since 1997, the National League has been steadily moving towards being the fourth division of EFL, it was awarded an automatic promotion to its champions and then a second promotion in 2003. This was determined through a four-team playoff. 

Then since 2018, the play-off positions have been extended to six – with the champions being promoted automatically.

The government will publish a White Paper to create an independent regulator for football next month, which is likely to intensify negotiations between all the leagues.

This White Paper has been the catalyst for financial and structural reforms throughout the game.

Any changes to the EFL’s promotion or relegation system will need approval by a simple majority vote of clubs and will not take effect until the next season, but discussions have so far been positive and this looks to be the closest we’ve come to getting a three up three down scenario.

National League general manager, Marc Ives, confirmed that talks are ‘ongoing’ and while some fans think it will be impossible for it to happen as clubs potentially have to vote on these plans, it seems that isn’t putting off a discussion between the two league organisations.

Many a player, pundit, manager and club have spoke in favour of change.

“Would a three up, three down situation be better for the game, not just the National League but across the pyramid of football from step six right the way up through the game? Would it be better? Yes of course it would,” Ives told the BBC.

“I can’t go into the details but we are having conversations with the EFL about progressing that and what I can say is that they are constructive conservations and I would be hopeful at some stage in the future we will get into that situation where we have three up, three down. It is what football deserves. They are ongoing conversations.”

However, Ives confirmed that any proposal would need to be approved by EFL clubs.

He added: “It is a fantastic league, it is a tough league to get out of with a lot of very good clubs in it, so if you are an EFL club that comes down would you not want the opportunity to get out of it as soon as you possibly can? Three up, three down is a better way of achieving that.

“We have a fantastic working relationship with the EFL, we meet with them on a regular basis. I’m fairly certain that I’m comfortable in saying in what we really want is what is right for football across the game.”

SEE MORE: Altrincham media man posts Twitter thread with findings for three up-three down debate

Twitter users reacted as a report emerges on the EFL’s stance regarding an extra National League promotion place…

@benredfearn77: Can’t remember a NL team being relegated the season after being promoted. Says it all really. Add another promotion spot for NL.

@daniel14f1: This is long overdue

@ncfcdaws: Thank fuck

@brianstokes92: Long overdue, but it raises a question. What is the point of the National League? It was created to make teams more EFL ready in the old election system. Time to merge L2 and the NL into North and South Divisions and let NLN and NLS be put back into the Trident League structure.

@Nigelcron: I would agree there are probably better teams in the National league than League Two and also it encourages competition…. Maybe even a fourth place play off between 4 th top and bottom too ?

@jackbeeton02: About time 👏🏻

@DN35GTFC: The National League need to bring their rules in to alignment with the financial restrictions of the EFL then absolutely green light it. Even make it 4 up 4 down.

@DavidBr46275369: Didn’t want it when we were in the league, wanted it when we were in non league but don’t want it now we’re back in the league!

@GK1Lob: So much dross at the bottom end of League 2, let it happen

@JoshButlerBUFC: Won’t happen as all the bang average league 1 and league 2 clubs will want protection like they had for decades to stop any lower league sides with a far bigger glass ceilings taking their place

@mayhem357_mark: Should not happen devalues the prestige of the league and only seems to be appeasement for 2-3 money backed clubs to get back into the EFL.

@spud_edwards: It’s a no-brainer IMO

@Ryanimation: Think I’m in a minority, but I like that it’s difficult to become a league club. Makes the achievements of the likes of Sutton and Barrow more special.

@HigginsAlan: Needs to happen there’s some massive clubs in non league and a lot of stagnant ones in league two

@ChrisHajdar: I’d be in favour of it and I believe it’s something that should have been done years ago, particularly when you look at how many full-time clubs there are in the National League now.

@MbwLdurham: About time, should have been 3 up a down for a long time

@BenDJ91: Yea, if they enforce stricter ground regulations and requirements before teams are allowed into the EFL. Barrow is a joke and there’s worse clubs in the NL

@Goonyella_: I’d be for opening up the 3 up 3 down, it’s way too hard to get promoted from the National League nowadays, so many big clubs down there.

We have had quite a lot of talk about 3 up/3 down in the National League today.

Here are the last five runners up in the @TheVanaramaNL and, if they got promoted via the playoffs.

*Spoiler alert it’s not a good look for 2nd place sides in the playoffs* pic.twitter.com/4kfJ2wz5x1

— Richscottmedia (@richscottmedia) December 23, 2022

@richscottmedia: I’ve been saying for ages we need 3 up/3 down between the EFL and the National League, so of course I’m fully behind this decision. We should reward success and also it would allow for more smaller teams to have a shot at promotion to the EFL like Solihull Moors in 2018/19. I don’t think it would dilute the quality of League 2 if these supposed ‘smaller teams’ were promoted to the EFL as sometimes these teams possess some excellent players.

@nickmadden91: Wrexham getting there way again

@simon_penn: Good news and not before too long.

@wrexhamcarl: Will club really vote this through? Turkey voting for Christmas spring to mind!

@saltergate1: Long long overdue. Getting relegated from L2 at the moment is a disaster – this will increase the chances of bouncing back rather than getting stuck in oblivion

@gdolan19571992: Wow, but believe it when I see it.

@RedDogCam: Needs to happen!

@craigyjones17: Even IF Wrexham got promoted this season, I’d still want this introduced. It’s long overdue as the standard of the fifth tier is so much stronger than it used to be.

@daveharry007: Long overdue. Plymouth Argyle were one EFL club who proposed this during the COVID season, and I would hope others would also support it.

@NonLeagueMaps: Long overdue. Let’s also have 3 up 3 down between Steps 5 & 6

@Richard90640750: Best thing to happen.

@jonathanFord11: I think the recent history of teams promoted to lge 2 is justification for this. How many have been relegated immediately after promotion

@BeardClubGary: Not while their financial regs can only be described as ‘looser than a three year-old’s shoelace’ – You’ll end up with quite sane L2 clubs getting swallowed by absolute financial suicide clubs.

@Jackjkendall91: Should happen. The standard of the bottom 3 L2 sides are genuinely weaker than most play off placed VNL sides

@TheLatestColU: Even though it would not be in any way beneficial for us, I believe it’s the right thing to do. The quality between leagues, particularly top half of NL, is not much at all

@stumpyjoe69: Now that Hollywood actors are involved in the Conference it’s only fair that rules are changed to ensure a happy ending for all and a film that can make shed loads of 💰💰💰💰💰

@davebutter: Never thought I’d have to be delighted about this but we are where we are. Fuck it make it 4 up.

@CUSSLEWIS: I always have been an advocate for two down, two up automatically. The idea of three down, two up automatically and one from the playoffs could work I guess.

@heyit5sam: It’s the change that needs to happen. 3 up 3 down in all other divisions. NL teams going up traditionally don’t struggle. Quite a lot of cases where they do a double promotion the following season. It’s the right move for the pyramid

@sgibbo1987: Absolutely should happen, there’s a bottle neck at the top of the NL and some dross at the bottom end of Lg2. Big teams (for our level) are stuck down there and even with a good season of 85+ points doesn’t guarantee promotion whereas 45-46 points can keep you up in lg2.

@SimonNeedham19: It’s about time, @EFL have been living in the past for too long, most of National League was once a Football League club, so it’s only right to extend the relegation places to 3.