Extension to Season, Promotion/Relegation Procedure and Start of Next Season

SEASON EXTENSION
The Football Association has agreed an extension to the season up to and including Saturday 7 May, although there is a rider that clubs at the top end of the Premier Division must finish their matches on or before Tuesday 3 May, as the first meeting to allocate promoted /relegated clubs to their leagues at that level for next season is scheduled for 4 May.

We also have the Premier Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 7 May, when obviously we would not want too many other matches taking place.

With that in mind, plus the fact that, ideally, when determining promotion and relegation, it is better if all clubs finish on the same day (unless clubs have mutually agreed to bring their final match forward) no matches in the Premier Division have been re-arranged beyond Saturday 30 April as yet. Unless it cannot be avoided, this will continue to be the case but as the season draws to a conclusion, it may become possible to re-arrange certain matches, where neither club is in danger of either promotion or relegation, beyond 30 April, to ease the burden of having to play twice in a single midweek.

This may result in some fairly late re-arrangements as the situation becomes clearer week by week. This will also apply in Division One but to a lesser extent.

PROMOTION/RELEGATION

It is appropriate to remind clubs about promotion/relegation procedures as we understand them.

FROM PREMIER DIVISION TO STEP 4
The champion club will go up if they meet the requirements of Grade E. and wish to be promoted. Should that not be the case, the second placed club can be considered and then down to the 3rd placed club but no further. Only one club will be promoted.

RELEGATION FROM STEP 4 TO STEP 5
This is entirely in the FA’s hands. There are clubs at or near the foot of both the Central Division of the Southern League and the Isthmian League South who would be geographically suitable for the CCL. Inevitably reprieves can save clubs near the bottom of Step 4 from relegation but it is meant to be the case that the bottom club in each Step 4 Division will be relegated whatever happens.

RELEGATION FROM THE PREMIER DIVISION
The League’s rules provide for the bottom three clubs in the Premier Division to be relegated so if you finish in one of those positions you must expect to be relegated. There can be reprieves for various reasons but there can be no arguments if you finish in the bottom three.

Irrespective of anything else, the bottom club will be relegated under FA rules.

PROMOTION FROM DIVISION ONE
Clubs finishing in the top three are eligible for promotion, subject to the club meeting the full requirements for Grade G by (and no later than) 31 March. Where inspections are required, they will be carried out on or around that date.

There is an important rider though. If by any chance two (or more) clubs are relegated to the CCL from Step 4 (or above) with only one going up, that would, if all other things remain equal, mean that the number of promotion places available from Division One could be reduced. It is unlikely to happen as the FA would probably move this or that club sideways but clubs in Division One must be aware of this possibility.

RELEGATION FROM DIVISION ONE
The FA has reprieved for the time being those existing clubs who do not meet the requirements of Grade G from enforced relegation. Although there is an element of unfairness about it, in that we could end up treating newer clubs differently, this only applies to the four “ring fenced” clubs, namely Farleigh Rovers, Sheerwater, Staines Lammas and Worcester Park. Unless they have done all the work required, all four though will have to seek re-election at the League AGM, when any decision to enforce relegation, or otherwise, for those four clubs will be for the other member clubs to decide.

PROMOTION FROM FEEDER LEAGUES, ETC., INTO DIVISION ONE

The League is aware that there are various clubs from both the Middlesex County League and the Surrey Elite League, geographically suitable for the CCL, who have applied for promotion and will be eligible to be promoted. It is highly likely that no more than one club from each league will be promoted.

In addition, three clubs have applied to join the League from outside the National League System and they will be invited to make their case to the FA in April. They are Bagshot FC, (currently Aldershot Senior League), Godalming Town Development FC (new club but associated with Godalming Town) and Leatherhead Town FC. (new club, youth only at present). Again it will be a matter for the FA to decide whether or not all or any of these clubs will be permitted to join the system at Step 6.

It is possible though that the numbers in Division One could be enhanced next season which at long last may lead to proper promotion/relegation procedures between ourselves and the recognised Step 7 feeder leagues at the end of season 2016-2017.

Again though, if there is relegation, it will be those clubs without the full facilities who will be first in the firing line. This has been made very clear by the FA.

There are two further clubs one at Step 5 and one at Step 6 who have made enquiries about the possibility of a transfer to the CCL. They will not be named as the matter has not gone beyond the enquiry stage but both have been referred to the FA.

RESIGNATIONS
We do not want any nasty surprises this season so if by any chance any club intends to resign from the League at the end of the season, you have until 31 March to do it. Anyone resigning after that date will face a heavy fine as detailed in the rules. This does not apply, of course, to any club either promoted, relegated or transferred to another League by the FA. If there are any clubs who have applied to the FA to be moved, it would be courtesy to let the League know about it please.

START OF NEXT SEASON
It is being recommended to the Board/Management Committee that next season should commence on Saturday 13 August, UNLESS the FA decide to play the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on that date, in which case we will need to start on Saturday 6 August as presumably nobody would wish to start their season with an FA Cup tie.

The FA have told us that no decisions have been made as to dates yet, although in recent times, the EP round has been on the third Saturday in August.