National League CEO Mark Ives wants a third promotion spot to the EFL, trying to change the current system that only promotes two teams. This change would make the National League more like other English football tiers and could help clubs make more money and do better.
- Mark Ives wants a “three-up, three-down” system
- All 72 National League clubs are behind the idea
- Teams could make more money and play better football
Mark Ives’ Push for Promotion Reform
Mark Ives, who runs the National League is trying really hard to get a third promotion spot to the EFL. Right now only two teams can go up from the National League to League Two, one gets automatic promotion and another has to win the playoffs. Ives started this “3UP” thing because he wants three teams going up and down just like the other leagues do. Every single one of the 72 clubs in the National League says they want this which shows how much everyone wants it to change.
National League CEO Mark Ives insists adding a third promotion spot into the EFL needs to be addressed now – or risk being kicked down the road for years.
https://t.co/owCxcdBhry
— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper)
February 09, 2025
If they change things teams could do better and make more money when they get into the EFL which has more money in it. You can see how good the National League is already with teams like York City FC and Maidstone United showing how tough the league is and that more teams should get a chance to go up.
Implications for English Football
Everyone’s talking about this third promotion spot idea and all the National League clubs are saying the same thing. Mark Ives is trying to make big changes to how the lower leagues work giving more teams a shot at moving up. They’re still talking to the EFL about it but if it happens it could really change things up and help National League teams do better and make more money.
