The promotion and relegation system for the 2021/22 Toolstation Northern Counties East League has been confirmed.
It is the FA who have come up the system which will also apply to the North West Counties and all Step 5 and 6 leagues.
The changes made, especially in the Premier Division, are almost a hark back to the bad old days when few promotion places existed.
The FA’s restructuring was seemingly meant to open up more opportunities, but that remains to be seen.
Only one automatic promotion place is available in the Premier Division, but the slight saving grace is the runners-up will play a play-off game against a team from Step 4.
The bottom two clubs will be relegated which means the very successful three up and three down format has been chucked out of the window.
The champions of Division One will be promoted, with the teams in second place to fifth place will compete in a play-off.
The bottom three clubs will be liable to be relegated.
If a club refuses to be promoted they too will be relegated.