The KoolSport Northern Counties East League has explained the situation, as far as is possible, regarding promotion and relegation this summer.

The Football Association have confirmed that only one club will be promoted from NCEL to the UniBond League this season and one club will be relagated from the UniBond League to the Premier Division of the NCEL.

The bottom two clubs in the Premier Division will be relegated to Division One and the top two clubs in Division One will be promoted to the Premier Division.

All Premier Division clubs must have achieved FA ground grading Grade F by 31st March 2009.

Any club failing to achieve this grading will be relegated to Divison One, irrespective of final league placing. This would be in addition to the bottom two placed clubs.

Should any club(s) be relegated from the Premier Division because of ground grading issues then the equivalent number of extra clubs will be promoted from Division One based on final league placings. This will be irrespective of current ground grading.

All clubs promoted from Division One will have until 31st March 2010 to achieve FA ground grading Grade F.

Failure to achieve this will result in relegation back to Division One at the end of season 2009/10.

The FA have deferred the requirement for Step 6 clubs (Division One) to achieve Grade G until 31st March 2010.

This means that the new clubs into the League this season, four of whom at the time of entry were not up to Grade G standard, now have a further year to achieve this standard.

The League are in discussions with the Football Association Leagues Manager regarding the possibility of "Feeder Leagues" at Step 7 and have met five leagues who are interested in becoming feeder leagues to the NCEL.

The League have received a number of serious enquiries from clubs wishing to join the NCEL.

All must have reached an "acceptable level" to be considered for admission.

These will be discussed in greater detail when the Football Association's views are known.