Mythbusting: Answers to some of your 3UP questions...

Because that’s not where the inconsistency is.

The only promotion race in the whole pyramid that doesn’t line up properly is the one between the National League and League Two.

Here’s the simple picture...

Above us:
From the Premier League down to League Two, every division has three promotion places (in fact, four from League Two to League One!)

Below us:
The National League System is completely consistent.

At each Step there are twice as many divisions as the level above, with two clubs promoted and four relegated in every division.

So the National League (Step 1) relegates four clubs a season, and NL North and South each promote two clubs to replace them.

At the bottom end, NL North and South each relegate four clubs. So the National League's 72-strong membership welcomes eight clubs every year from Step 3. (Take a look at the National League System structure to help visualise this.)

In other words: everything below us works. Everything above us works.

Where the gap is:
The only place the pyramid doesn’t follow that pattern is between League Two and the National League - a single-division step, just like every other EFL division, but with only two promotion places instead of three.

That’s why 3UP exists.

We’re not asking for anything radical - just parity with the rest of the pyramid.

National League clubs are standing up for what is fair and equitable. Not so long ago, the widely heralded Fan Led Review concluded that we must financially safeguard our clubs, leagues and the heritage of the game. A vast majority in the game agrees that 3UP will help in this goal.

It’s not just the 72 clubs in our three leagues that are supportive. We have been contacted by EFL clubs that are supportive – don’t forget almost half their current clubs have spent time in the National League.

Apart from the EFL, almost every other football organisation in the UK is supportive of 3UP. The football media are unanimously behind it and most importantly 93% of fans across all the professional divisions back it.

The Prime Minister has commended 3UP, MPs across all parties back it and the Sports Minister recognises that 3UP’s goals are in tandem with the new independent football regulator’s objectives.

All of these stakeholders in the game have different and (sometimes) conflicting interests, but the one thing they can agree on is 3UP.

Don’t be so sure. It’s not as simple as 'turkeys voting for Christmas'.

We speak to clubs right across the EFL, and the picture is far more balanced than people assume. Many understand the principle behind 3UP, and plenty support it. In fact, 32 current EFL clubs – including 19 of the 24 in League Two – have played in the National League themselves. They know exactly what this level is about. Clubs, owners and supporters don’t forget where they’ve come from.

And importantly, 3UP actually supports clubs’ long-term interests. Every season, teams will drop into the National League. When that happens, those clubs will want a fair route back.

So the idea that 'EFL clubs wouldn’t back it' just doesn’t reflect reality. There’s more openness – and more shared interest – than people think.

Our aim is simple: get this on the agenda. We want the EFL to put it to their clubs and let them make the choice.

The Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) was raised previously by the EFL as a fundamental reason to block 3UP.

The National League now has SCMP in place for the current season and has shared full details with the EFL. More generally, in recent years the financial management of our structure and its clubs has been robust.

The historical statistics indicate otherwise. On average, promoted teams finish in the top half of EFL League Two during their first season.

No club promoted from the National League to League Two has ever been relegated the following season. 10 clubs have gone onto be promoted back-to-back.

Conversely, relegated clubs rarely bounce straight back into the EFL – this is another reason for 3UP and why we believe the EFL should give its clubs the opportunity to debate the issue.

Promotion and relegation is out of the regulator’s scope as it would constitute ‘government interference’ in the view of FIFA. The National League agrees.

Promotions and relegations between the leagues are for the governing bodies to decide between themselves. Whilst the EFL indicate they are open to the idea of 3UP generally, the National League disagrees with them on the infinite timescale.

The National League also disagrees with the EFL’s latest position - that 3UP should be dependent on wider issues being resolved (that are within the regulator’s scope).