RFU PROPOSALS FOR LEAGUE RESTRUCTURE
The RFU has now set out its plans for a restructure of the leagues which would take effect from the start of the 2021/2022 season. The attached graphic sets out what the new structure might look like. Unless Coronavirus intervenes the 2020/2021 season will proceed as normal albeit with a delayed start. Should we win the league we would be promoted to Level 4 which would be National League 2 North otherwise we would remain at the new Level 5. Basically the existing Northern Premier League would then be split into 2 separate regional leagues, North West and North East. The idea behind this is to reduce the amount of travelling for clubs such as ours. In principle this is something that we would support. The trips to the North East that we currently undertake require a huge and unfair commitment from amateur players and place a huge financial burden on the club.
The new North West League would consist of any clubs from the North West that were relegated from Level 4, the North West clubs that remain at Level 5 at the of the season and the higher based North West Clubs from Level 6. It remains to be seen exactly how many clubs would be promoted from Level 6 to make up the numbers but it will only be the higher placed clubs so the games should still be competitive. We would envisage that, for example, we would lose Alnwick and Billingham and they would be replaced by clubs such as Birkenhead Park and Stockport.
Although it seems clear that this restructure will take place, there is still a major issue as to how many clubs there will be in each league. The majority of clubs in the North seem to favour retaining the existing structure of 14 teams so that each club plays 26 league games each season. The RFU, however, does seem intent on reducing the number of clubs in each league. The options they have put forward are based on 12 or 10 clubs which would of course reduce the number of games played to 22 or 18. The RFU then proposes to introduce a cup competition. They have suggested 3 options as to when this might be played
1. The competition would be played at the end of the season
2. The competition would be played in 2 parts, with some games in the middle of the season and the rest at the end
3. The competition would be spread over the season
The main problem at the moment is that the RFU have not given any information about the possible format of the competition. The concern is that it would be a competition that would produce meaningless games and would simply result in clubs crying off games.
No final decisions have been made. The consultation process goes on. It is anticipated that the RFU will make a final decision in October.
If any member has any views that they would like to put forward please email graeme.roberts@wflms.co.uk

Check the documents section of the website for more information on the current proposal.