A MASSIVE rule change could be introduced to the EFL and National League TODAY.
The rule around promotion and relegation between League Two and the National League could be changed.
The EFL board are meeting today and will discuss the National League’s demand for there to be three promotion and relegation places.
This conversation will come ahead of it possibly being put on the agenda for the meeting between the 72 clubs in March.
The National League has long been campaigning for more places for teams to reach League Two.
The current rules see the winners of the fifth tier gain automatic promotion, while the 2nd to 7th placed clubs go through a playoff for the second and final spot.
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The change would see the bridge between the two divisions brought in line with the gap between the Premier League and Championship.
Automatic promotion was first adopted in 1987 as Scarborough became the first to make the jump via that route.
Before then, clubs were only allowed in via a vote taken between the existing member clubs.
The promotion spots were increased to two in 2003 with the addition of the post-season play-offs.
The National League’s campaign has even seen games have delayed starts.
In November, games started three minutes late to draw attention to the demand.
Recent promotions from National League
Here is a look at the teams who have made the jump from the National League to the EFL in recent years…
2024/25:
- Barnet
- Oldham Athletic (playoffs)
2023/24
- Chesterfield
- Bromley (playoffs)
2022/23:
- Wrexham
- Notts County (playoffs)
2021/22:
- Stockport County
- Grimsby Town (playoffs)
2020/21:
- Sutton United
- Hartlepool United (playoffs)
2019/20:
- Barrow
- Harrogate Town (playoffs)
2018/19:
- Leyton Orient
- Salford City (playoffs)
2017/18:
- Macclesfield Town
- Tranmere Rovers (playoffs)
2016/17:
- Lincoln City
- Forest Green Rovers (playoffs)
2015/16
- Cheltenham Town
- Grimsby Town (playoffs)
The discussion over the promotion spots has even been debated in Parliament.
It was brought forward to the House of Commons by Labour MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash.
He said it would be “a straightforward reform to make the system fairer, more competitive and more sustainable”.
Many of the clubs to gain promotion out of the National League are still in the EFL.
Wrexham are the highest climbers after rising all the way to the Championship, while Stockport, Leyton Orient and Lincoln City are in League One.
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