Non-league shake-up set to hit region's clubs
The region’s top non-league football clubs are bracing for the biggest shake-up of the game for more than a decade.
The changes, set to be rubber-stamped by the FA, would see clubs within the Shropshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire and other neighbouring counties incorporated into a new ‘Midland Division’ from the start of the 2018/19
campaign.
Step four Market Drayton Town, of the Evo-Stik Division One South, would be affected, along with clubs who currently ply their trade in the step five Midland Premier League, with more promotion places expected to be on offer next term in order to prepare for the most drastic realignment of the non-league game since the introduction of Conference North and South in 2004.
Midland League Shawbury United, who finished fourth-bottom last season and subsequently secured survival in their debut at the level, are involved in the mix-up, alongside league new-comers Haughmond – who are joining as champion of the West Midlands Premier Division.
The current structure sees three divisions operate at step three – the Northern League, Southern League and London-based Isthmian League – each with two feeder divisions at the step below.
Under the changes, a fourth division will now be introduced at step three. Though it will operate under the jurisdiction of the Southern League, it is expected to incorporate clubs in the ‘Greater Midlands’ area.
By far the biggest impact will see a drastic effect in the number of clubs being promoted or relegated next season to prepare for the revised structure.
Only one team will drop from each of the existing step three divisions – the Evo-Stik Northern League, Southern League and London-based Isthmian League – while a total of 19 clubs will be promoted from step four.
The increased number of promotions will also extend to step five, with a total of 26 promotion places set to be on offer across several divisions, including the Midland Premier League.
The changes, which have been approved by each league, will now officially be given the green light at the FA’s forthcoming AGM, with the finer detail of how the new divisions will be incorporated set to be thrashed out later in the summer.
Shawbury chief Dave Richards said: “The Midland League was really strong last year, like the old West Midlands Division.
“It’s going to make it more competitive. A lot of clubs will want to progress. The league opened my eyes last year and this will affect us. We’ve got to make sure we push on.”
