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The National League System

1. Introduction
2. Position in System
3. Rules & Reghulations
4. Detailed Issues
5. The_Movement_of_Clubs
6. Election of Club
7. Working Groups
8. Procedures
9. Appeals
10. Arbitration
11. Leagues in Steps 5 - 7

Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of the National League System

1 Introduction

The National League System shall comprise a system by which regulation and promotion links shall exist between participating leagues (the “Leagues”) and shall be operated in accordance with these regulations.

The aims and objectives of the National League System are:

(a)                 To provide clubs with a level of competitive football appropriate to their playing ability, stadium/ground facilities and economic means.

(b)                 To provide a framework for discussion on matters of policy and common interest to leagues and clubs.

(c)                 To allow the seasonal movement of clubs.

All Leagues and the clubs participating from time to time in such Leagues (the "Clubs") shall be bound by these regulations.  All leagues will be required to sign a copy of these regulations on an annual basis signifying their agreement to be bound by their content.

2 Position of a League in the National League System

2.1     The structure of the National League System is set out below

Step1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5/6

Step 7

The leagues currently at steps 5, 6 & 7 are set out at the end of these regulations, and a review is underway.

2.2     Any league wishing to become part of the National League System must advise The Football Association in such form and/or providing such information as shall be required by the National League System Committee (“NLSC”) from time to time.  The decision as to whether or not a league should be admitted to, and their position in the National League System shall be made by the NLSC and shall be final and binding.

2.3     Any League within the National League System wishing to propose and adjustment to its position within the National League System must apply in writing to the NLSC by 31^st December in any year for such proposal to be determined by the NLSC in order, if approved, to have effect in the season commencing in the following calendar year.

3 Rules and Regulations for Promotion and Relegation

3.1     The National League System shall provide for the seasonal promotion and relegation of clubs between Steps within the system.  A league that signifies its acceptance to be bound by these regulations must be in a position to promote and relegate clubs at the conclusion of each season. 

4 Detailed Promotion and Relegation Issues

4.1    Eligibility criteria, including ground grading, shall be agreed between the NLSC and the various leagues.  Details of the requirements at each Step are contained in the National Ground Grading document as published by the Football Association.

 4.2 It may be necessary from time to time to move clubs between leagues at the same Step to accommodate the movement of clubs by normal promotion and relegation.  Where this is necessary, no club will be asked to move more than once in every three seasons.

4.3     At the conclusion of each season, the following procedures will apply:

Step 1 and Step 2

The clubs finishing in the bottom three places at Step 1 will be relegated to a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 2.  They will be replaced by the clubs finishing in 1^st position in each of the divisions at Step 2 together with the club which wins a series of play off matches involving those clubs finishing in positions 2 to 5 in each of the divisions at Step 2.

Step 2 and Step 3

The clubs finishing in the bottom three places in each of the two divisions at Step 2 will be relegated to a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 3.  They will be replaced by the clubs finishing in 1^st position in each of the divisions at Step 3 together with a further three clubs determined by a series of play off matches involving those clubs finishing in positions 2 to 5 in each of the divisions at Step 3.  The promoted clubs will also be placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 2. 

Step 3 and Step 4

The clubs finishing in the bottom four places in each of the three divisions at Step 3 will be relegated to a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 4.  They will be replaced by the clubs finishing in 1^st and 2^nd position in each of the divisions at Step 4 together with a further four clubs to be determined by a series of play off matches involving those clubs finishing in positions 3 to 6 in each of the divisions at Step 4.  The promoted clubs will also be placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 3.

Step 4 and Step 5 

The clubs finishing in the bottom two places in each of the four divisions at Step 4 will be replaced by the 8 most suitable clubs from the leagues at Step 5.  Each of these leagues will nominate the club finishing in 1^st position or where this club does not meet the entry criteria or does not wish to be considered for promotion, the club finishing in 2^nd position.  Both the clubs relegated from Step 4 and the clubs to be promoted from Step 5 will be placed in a feeder pool and allocated to the most geographically appropriate league.

Clubs seeking promotion from Step 5 to Step 4 must make application in writing to The Football Association, copied to the existing league, by 31^st December in the relevant year.  The application must be accompanied by the agreed grading fee, as determined by the NLSC, which is non refundable.  The Football Association will arrange for ground grading visits to take place before March 31^st in the relevant year.  A final list of clubs eligible to be considered for promotion will be published by 15^th April.  Final promotion will be subject to the criteria outlined in the paragraph above.

Step 5 to Step 6 and Step 6 to Step 7

The movement of clubs between Step 5 and Step 6 and between Step 6 and Step 7 will continue as at present until the restructure of the leagues competing at these Steps has been completed.

Each league shall include in its constitutional rules and regulations provisions for the movement of clubs as above.

4.4  Clubs will not be allowed to enter into a ground share agreement in order to gain promotion.

Only internal changes to the constitution of a league will be allowed following the holding of a league’s annual general meeting.

5 The Movement of Clubs within the National League System other than by Promotion or Relegation

5.1  Movement of a club from participation in one league to another is not permitted other than by promotion and relegation save with the approval of the LC, such approval being final and binding.

5.2  Any club proposing to move from one league to another must make appropriate applications to resign from and be elected to the relevant leagues in accordance with the rules and regulations of those leagues.  Any such notice must in any event, and regardless of any provisions to the contrary in a league’s rules and regulations, be given to both leagues and the LC by 1^st April in order to be valid in accordance with paragraph 5.1.

5.3  If a club (whether a Members’ Club or a Company) is liquidated and then wishes to reform, unless otherwise determined by the LC, it will be allowed to make an application only to join a league/division a minimum of two Steps below the league/division in which it was a member when liquidated.

5.4  If a club (whether a Members’ Club or a Company) seeks to merge with another club provisional notification must be received by the LC and the league(s) of which the clubs are members by 31^st December in the relevant year.  Any proposed merger must be finalised by 31^st March in the following year for the merged entity to be included in the league structure for the ensuing season.

In arriving at its decision the LC may apply the following minimum criteria:

 (i)        the shareholders or members of the Merging Clubs have voted to agree to the proposed merger;

(ii)         all Football Creditors (as defined in FA Rules) of the Merging Clubs must be fully satisfied and evidenced as such;

(iii)        all other creditors of the Merging Clubs  must be satisfied and evidenced as such;

(iv)        the proposed Merged Club must provide financial forecasts showing its ability to fund itself to the end of the immediately following season;

(v)           evidence of funding sources of the Merged Club will be required;

(vi)          the proposed playing name of the Merged Club must be acceptable to the LC; and 

(vii)         the Merged Club must have security of tenure to a ground that meets the relevant ground grading requirements;  

(viii)        Any other criteria that the LC may from time to time deem to be appropriate;

 (ix)       The Merged Club will ordinarily be placed at the lower of the Steps at which the Merging Clubs ended the season in which the application is made.  For the purposes of this Regulation, if one of the Merging Clubs has finished that season in a relegation place, then they will be deemed to have ended the season at the Step to which they would have been relegated without the Proposed Merger proceeding.

6 Election of a Club into a League

6.1  In normal circumstances a club can enter the NLS only at Step 7.  However, in exceptional circumstances a league may seek approval from the LC to elect a club not currently in membership of a league within the NLS provided that there is: (a) a vacancy within its constitution (b) the club meets the entry criteria and (c) promotion and relegation issues have been satisfied.

6.2  Reserve teams will not be permitted to compete above Step 6 in the NLS.  There must be a minimum of Two Steps between a first and reserve team.  This does not apply at Steps 6 & 7.  Reserve teams currently at Step 5 can remain unless relegated, once relegated they will not be permitted to be promoted back to Step 5.

7 National League System Working Groups

National and Regional Working Groups will be formed comprising of representatives from leagues within the National League System and the LC to consider matters relevant to the development of the game within the System.

A Working Group may refer a matter to the LC for determination

8 Procedures for the Determination of any Matter, Dispute or Difference by the National League System Committee

8.1  The LC may adopt such procedures for the determination of any matter, dispute or difference as it considers appropriate and expedient, having regard to the aims and objectives set out at Regulation 1.  The LC may require the attendance at a meeting or the written observations of any league or club, as it considers appropriate to assist its determination.

8.2  Any decision of the LC shall be subject to the right of appeal and the decision of an Appeal Board shall be final and binding on all parties.

8.3  The LC may, at its discretion, delegate the resolution of any matter, dispute or difference arising under these Regulations to any body it considers to be appropriate (including a sub-committee or commission which may include members of council not on the LC or a body constituted by a County Football Association).

9 Appeal Procedure

9.1  Any dispute or difference between a league and a club relating to promotion and relegation issues and/or other eligibility criteria should be referred for determination to the LC; such determination shall be final and binding.  Any referral must be carried out in accordance with The Football Association’s appeal procedure and be submitted at the offices of The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA within 14 days of the posting of the relevant decision and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee as set out at 9.2.

9.2  The fees will be as follows:

Step 1 clubs     - £250

Step 2 clubs     - £200

Step 3 clubs     - £150

Step 4 clubs     - £100

Other clubs       - £50

10 Arbitration

The fact of participation in the National League System and signifying agreement to be bound by these Regulations shall constitute an agreement between each league and club to refer to Arbitration any challenge in law arising out of, or in relation to, these Regulations in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of The Football Association.

11 Leagues in Steps 5, 6 & 7