3UP Campaign: National League delays kick-offs in support of extra promotion place campaign

Every National League club wrote to the EFL board in February as part of the 3UP campaign, demanding the introduction of three promotion and relegation spots between the two leagues, beginning in the 2025-26 season.

Despite talks taking place, that failed to come to pass, with the EFL saying that it intended to wait for the newly established Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to resolve funding disagreements before making alterations.

The EFL also said any changes need to be part of a broader package of reforms across all levels of the game, but that the issue remains under consideration.

Pearce added that the weight of opinion was firmly behind the clubs.

“Since launching 3UP, we have been contacted by a remarkable number of EFL clubs who are privately supportive of the change but haven’t even been given the chance as a group of clubs to formally discuss it,” he said.

The change also appears to have strong support among fans.

A Football Supporters’ Association poll commissioned earlier this year found 93% of fans surveyed across all divisions backed an extra promotion place from the National League to League Two, with 83% of fans who follow EFL clubs supportive.

The change in regulation would require a majority of the 72 EFL clubs to vote in favour, plus a majority among Championship clubs.