Promotion call was the FA’s, says Northern League chairman

By Mark Carruthers

NORTHERN League chairman Glenn Youngman denies that any clubs were recommended for promotion into their second tier ahead of the new season.

Blyth Town, Horden CW and Redcar Town were all promoted from Step 7 feeder leagues this summer as part of the Football Association’s restructure of the Non-League system.

A total of 13 clubs from the north-east had applied for promotion into Northern League Division Two and two of the unsuccessful clubs – believed to be Boldon CA and Boro Rangers – are understood to have made enquiries over the decision.

In a statement released to all clubs during the league’s AGM, Youngman moved to quell any talk that the Northern League had made any recommendations to the governing body.

He said: “The FA informed the clubs that it was the Ebac Northern League who ‘recommended’ the clubs for promotion.

“At no point, either at the grounds inspection or within the document sent to the FA, did we recommend any club as that is not our job.

“We have now written to both clubs informing them that we completed the inspections, reported back our findings to the FA and it is up to the governing body to place a club into a league within the National League System.”

Youngman also questioned the FA’s decision to combine results over the last two seasons to calculate points-per-game averages in the bid to promote clubs during the restructure.

“In one season we had played approximately 75 per cent of the games but in the season just finished we had only completed approximately 25 per cent,” he said. “I believe that promotion and relegation should be decided on the field of play.”