Extra promotion/relegation spot for Men’s NPL
Football West News
Football West is introducing an extra promotion/relegation place between the NPLWA – Men’s competition and the Men’s State League Division One, effective from 2023.
The present situation is a straight one-up, one-down, with the team finishing bottom of the NPL at the end of the regular season replaced by the champions of Division One.
However, from next season there will be potential for another side to go up, with the introduction of a four-team play-off involving the team which finishes the regular season second bottom in the NPL and those that come second, third and fourth in Division One.
The play-off will consist of two semi-finals over two legs:
- NPL second bottom v Division One fourth-place team
- Division One second-place team v Division One third-place team
The two winning teams will advance to a one-off final to decide who will play in the NPL the following season.
This is already in place between State League Division One and Division Two, and will also be introduced between Division Two and the Amateur Premier Division from next season.
From next season there will no longer be a Division One Top Four Cup. The NPLWA – Men’s Top Four Cup remains unaffected.
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell said: “Opening up the extra spot in these divisions will create greater interest and excitement, with more teams having something to play for near the end of the season.
“There will now be clear, uniform criteria regarding promotion and relegation, from NPL down to the Amateur Premier Division.”
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