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The idea (which will not be achieved) is to make the whole structure better suited to teams in the North, especially the North-east, and to halt the southward movement of boundaries between "North" and "South".
The additional "Midlands League" will be operated by the exisiting Southern League. Currently 72 teams play in the three divisions at this level. Next season, there will be 88 in four divisions.
The next level down, Step 4, will also be increased by a division. Currently there are 136 clubs in six divisions. Next season there will be 140 clubs in seven divisions.
As a result of this, only the bottom team in each of the current step 6 divisions will be relegated, with the top team in each of the 14 leagues at Step 5 being promoted, and the top 12 second teams, decided on a points per game average. With the exception of a small number of teams whose grounds do not come up to standard, promotion is compulsory- a plan which has met with opposition, mainly from the Northern League.
The number of leagues at step 5 will remain at 14, there will be some shuffling around and may be a 20 team limit applied on each division.
The Step 5 Leagues are
Northern, North West Counties, Northern Counties (East), Midland Football League, United Counties, Eastern Counties, Essex, Spartan South Midlands, Southern Counties (East) [formerly Kent], Southern Combination [formerly Sussex], Combined Counties, Hellenic, Wessex and Western
There will be an increase at Step 6, with two new divisions. One will be administered by the North West Counties, the other by the Eastern Counties with some representation from the Essex. Essex is currently the only area in the country not covered by a Step 6 League
Currently, all the Step 5 Leagues above run a Step 6 division, except Essex. The Hellenic has two Step 6 divisions.
There are three independent Step 6 Leagues, East Midlands, West Midlands (Regional) and South West Peninsular.
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