You may have read recently that the West Midlands Regional League will not run a Premier Division from the 2020/21 season. So what is this likely to mean for our cub.

Darlo Chairman Neil Chambers gave us his thoughts.

Let me say that I know no more than anyone else. I have read what has been published and sough to interpret everything I have read. It is not easy to explain and the FA have not been entirely clear on their exact intentions. However here goes. I will confine most of my comments to how the changes are likely affect us and the West Midlands Regional League (WMRL) Premier Division.

For the past two seasons the FA have indicated their intention to form what they call "The Perfect (non league) Pyramid" at Steps 1 to Step 6 Nationally. Step 1 is the National League Conference and Step 6 is the equivalent of the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division. We are currently at Step 6.

The move towards the "Perfect Pyramid" commenced at the end of the 2018/19 season but the biggest impact will be at the start of the 2020/21 season. So my interpretation of what it is likely to mean for us is as follows-

"The FA has made it clear that Nationally they will introduce a new Step 4 Division and 2 new Step 5 Divisions and that there will be 3 fewer Step 6 Divisions for the start of the 2020/21 season. To prepare for this in May 2019 the FA asked all Step 5 and Step 6 Leagues in the Country to apply to run Divisions in 2020/21.

The FA has also said that Nationally 24 Step 5 clubs will be promoted to help create the new Step 4 Division. Twelve clubs will also be relegated from Step 5. To accommodate all of the changes and make the Leagues geographically sensible and viable many clubs will be "laterally moved" to other Leagues. The FA has also said that Nationally there will be 76 clubs promoted from Step 6 to Step 5 including 4 clubs being promoted from the West Midlands Regional League at the end of this season. So to create the two new Step 5 Divisions 36 Step 5 clubs will be promoted or relegated out of Step 5 and 76 clubs will be promoted from Step 6. This leaves 40 new Step 5 clubs with 20 in each of the 2 new Step 5 Divisions.

The FA has recently announced the results of the Step 5 and Step 6 application process mentioned above. For the 2020/21 season the East Midlands Counties League and the West Midlands Regional League will no longer run Step 6 Divisions. Following a recent League meeting the WMRL with full support of member clubs will appeal the FAs decision.

The exact position at the end of this season will be determined by promotion and relegation issues as well as decisions made by the FA involving the lateral movement of clubs . However should the appeal fail then my view of what is likely to happen is described below. If the appeal is successful what I say below is likely to change dramatically.

We know that the Midland League was successful in their application to the FA to run a Step 6 Division. With that in mind I expect that several clubs based in North Staffordshire and Shropshire currently playing in the Midland League Division One (also Step 6) and WMRL Premier Division are likely to be laterally moved to the North West Counties or Northern League. I also expect that some clubs from the Derbyshire/Nottingham/ Leicestershire and Coventry area currently playing in the Midland League Division One will also be laterally moved to either the United Counties, Northern or North West Counties Leagues. I also expect that some Midland League Division One and WMRL Premier Division clubs from the South Birmingham and Worcestershire area are likely to be laterally moved to the Hellenic League.

Following all of those changes I expect, subject to promotions, relegation and lateral movements that approx 8-10 teams from the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Black Country area from both the current WMRL Premier Division and the Midland League Division One will form a Step 6 Division of 18-20 clubs in the Midland League. Unless we are promoted or relegated I expect that we are likely to be moved laterally to the Midland League at Step 6 and be part of that League for the 2020/21 season.

As I say these are only my musings and entirely dependent on promotions, relegation and lateral movement of clubs decided by the FA.

Neil Chambers
Chairman
Darlaston Town (1874) FC