Suggested Triplet Model
for 2016/17 for Development of the Current Non-League Structure - Steps Two
to Six       -       25/06/14

This presentation is designed to illustrate that broadening
the Regional non-league pyramid is not only the best way forward for its
clubs, but a necessary way forward.

There are two
main parts to this model: 1) A new League framework and 2) a new Promotion
and Relegation process.

The new framework introduces new Conferences, Regions and
Sections to take the place of the current Steps Two to Six. A summary of this
is below:

Current Step

Divisions

National Competition

Number of Clubs

Total (865)

New Steps

National Competition

New Step

Divisions

Number of Clubs

Total (756)

Step 2

2

F.A. Trophy

22

44

Regional Conference

F.A. Trophy

Step 2

3

24

72

Step 3

3

F.A. Trophy

24

72

Region

F.A. Trophy

Step 3

9

22

198

Step 4

6

F.A. Trophy

22-24

136

Section

F.A. Vase

Step 4

27

18

486

Step 5

14

F.A. Vase

20-22

296

Step 6

17

F.A. Vase

14-23

321

Approximately just over 100 clubs at the foot of Step Six would return to the
County Leagues (current Step Seven)

Approximately just over 100 clubs at the foot
of Step Six would return to the County Leagues (current Step Seven)

In an ideal
world the model would be submitted for consultation throughout 2014/15 so
that by August 2015, all clubs know where they stand for the following
season.

The advantages of this model are substantial and
far-reaching:

Advantages

1

There would be a substantial reduction in
travel distances and / or travel times across the country (see the "36
comparison" sheets).

2

More local derbies would take place with a
likely increase in crowds and revenue as a result.

3

The creation of a third Regional Conference
would completely eliminate the issues caused by the Conference North / South
allocations.

4

The new model for promotion /  relegation ensures that there are more
meaningful matches at the lower end of the table when many would otherwise be
"dead rubbers".

5

The Conference National would only have three
guaranteed relegations instead of the current four at National level, but the
opportunity would remain for two clubs to come up from each league below.

6

Having two levels removed from the Pyramid
places nearly two hundred clubs a step higher while a further two hundred
clubs would be two levels higher.

7

Section level clubs would have playoffs for the
first time, increasing the end of season interest.

8

Section
levels would have the opportunity for a second club to be promoted instead of
just the one club currently.

9

Divisions of 18 are more manageable at Section
level, with the level of postponements increasing and the playoff system
requiring an extra week at the end of the season to play out.

10

Any post-season club transfers as a result of
pooling are less of a handicap to the clubs as the travel distances / times
are lower across all new leagues.

11

Divisions will become less "stale" in
the event of increased promotion and relegation. There are also likely to be
more transfers across Leagues.

12

League Cups are no longer required, enabling
clubs to reinstate the County Cups to a higher priority, hopefully playing
most of those games on a Saturday as was the case traditionally.

The disadvantages of this model are minor and temporary:

Disadvantages

1

There could "potentially" be six
clubs relegated from any or all of the Conferences (see advantage 5 and the
Promotion and Relegation Structure below).

2

The Region and Section League tables may be a
little stretched in terms of standard for a season or two while the
"promoted" clubs adapt.

3

Ground gradings may require relaxation at
Section level for a season or two to allow the current Step Six clubs that
are moved up a little time to  comply.

4

This format would mean that some established
leagues will disappear, although many of the new areas could well be
administered by existing Leagues. (see administration section below)

To reach the
numbers advised in the model for allocation purposes:

I reprieved all "relegation position" clubs at
Steps Two and Three with exception of those who resigned, and moved down
those that were actually relegated from the old Step Four and promoted two
from each of the old Step Five divisions.

Approximately
the top two thirds of each Step Six division
(excluding Reserve teams) were moved up to the new Sections, leaving
109 old Step Six sides to be placed into County Leagues (old Step Seven).

However, 10 of
those are Reserve sides and some of the remaining 99 would have the
opportunity to move up at the expense of others, as many of the sides I have
provisionally moved up would not pass basic ground gradings.

The number of
18 in each new "Section" may appear small but these clubs have been
suffering more postponement backlogs and would also be required to finish
earlier to accommodate the newly introduced playoff week.

Suggested
Administration process:

I presume that
the Conference would inherit the third Regional Conference, while the three
main feeder Leagues (Isthmian, Southern, Northern Premier) would be
responsible for administering the three Regions in their areas

as they do
presently. For the Sections it would make sense to ask many established Step
Five Leagues to administer a Section or Sections that were in their
geographical areas in the first place.

As an example
the Northern League could administer the new Sections A - Tyne and B - Tees
instead of its current Divisions 1 and 2.

Obviously it
may help if the F.A. threw a little bit of money at this area, to encourage
those that are mostly volunteers to "stick with it" during the
transition; a sort of loyalty bonus, you might say.

The F.A. would
also probably need to create an administrative team to facilitate this whole
procedure if there isn't one already, possibly on a permanent basis .

Going Further (optional): I would remove all National Conference clubs from the F.A.
Trophy and place them in the League Cup. To accommodate, I'd remove Premier
League clubs from the League Cup either to ease congestion or to create

a winter break. National Conference clubs would prefer
this switch as many devalue the Trophy these days with weakened teams, unless
they reach its later stages, as is often also the case with Premier League
clubs in the League Cup.