NEWS: NPL Confirms Expansion Plan for 2024/25 Season

The Pitching In Northern Premier League have confirmed that the Midlands Division will expand from 20 sides to 22 from the 2024/25 season onwards. That will mean an extra four league games for the Reds next season.

Only two sides were slated for relegation this season, with four to be promoted from step five. However, with lateral movement open to maintain as sensible a structure as possible, there’s no guarantee that we’ll see four new sides from step five, the number could also be higher or lower.

What we know so far;

·       Spalding United have been promoted to step three

·       Anstey Nomads or Harborough Town will join them through the playoff route

·       Gresley Rovers have been relegated

·       AFC Rushden & Diamonds finished in the relegation zone, but could receive a reprieve (based upon points per game) due to withdrawals in the pyramid

·       Loughborough Dynamo have taken voluntary relegation

Who is likely to join us?

·       Wellingborough Town and Racing Club Warwick have both earned promotion from the United Counties League Premier Division South, and would be logical fits geographically

·       Loughborough Students won the playoff in the UCL Premier North and look certain to drop in to the space vacated by Dynamo

·       Long Eaton United have been relegated from step three, and will likely drop in

So, that should be four sides in, but with at least six to come in, there could be also be lateral movement, including Cambridge City departing. Much more will be known after the weekend, with a final decision due around the middle of May, after the FA have met to draw up the look of the pyramid for next season.