PROMOTION AND RELEGATION BETWEEN THE CONFERENCE NATIONAL AND LEAGUE TWO

Early day motion 264, tabled 26 June 2012 by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 1 member.

That this House notes the great and growing disparity in funding between the upper and lower leagues of English football, at a time when promotion between the Conference and the Football League remains extremely difficult; further notes that the gap in the standard of play between League and non-League clubs is narrowing with many clubs in the Conference National now working on a professional level; sees that the current inadequate two-up, two-down system of promotion and relegation between the ConferenceNational and League Two has created a bottleneck; believes that greater promotion opportunities between the Conference and the Football League would promote a free market and fair play in English football, encourage greater redistribution of wealth between different levels of the game and ensure that relegated ex-League teams with strong and thriving fan bases are not left to wither and die; and calls on the Government to press the Football Association to introduce a three-up, three-down system of promotion and relegation between the Conference National and League Two of the Football League.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 1.