At their meeting on 6 February, the FA’s Leagues Committee decided the principles to be applied when allocating clubs at Steps 3 & 4 for season 2018/19.

The Committee decision was taken after hearing the results of two exercises, the first using the tables at the end of season 2016/17 and the second based on the tables as at 2 January 2018.

At Step 3 the decision is to implement a north division, a central ‘band’ from the east coast to the west of Birmingham, together with south west and south east divisions.

At Step 4 the seven areas will be divided as shown in the above image with the Isthmian League having responsibility for the green, blue and orange areas, the Southern League administering the yellow and pink areas and the Northern Premier League to have responsibility for in the area coloured black. The Northern Premier League is calling a meeting of its clubs to decide whether to remain with a north/south split or to change to an east/west allocation.

It is emphasised that this is a guide only at this time. We have deliberately not included names of clubs because the full allocation can only be made when the identities of the constituent clubs are known. It is clarified that this is for season 2018/19 and the make-up of clubs in future seasons may alter this approach.