GET SET FOR INTER-STEPS
Key info on the 4/5 play-offs
THE 2022-23 season has nearly finished. But at the bottom of Step 4 and the top of Step 5, there is still lots to play for with the second season on Inter-Step play-offs. The NLP takes a look at how it plays out ahead of a busy summer.
INTER-STEP PLAY-OFFS? DON’T THEY HAVE PLAYOFFS AT STEP 5?
That’s from next season with a traditional fourteam play-off system set to be implemented to replace the current Inter-Step format. As it stands, the teams finishing third and fourth bottom of the eight Step 4 divisions are due to play against the 16 runners-up at Step 5.
There’s a ‘But’ coming. Following Harlow Town’s withdrawal earlier this season, one Step 5 runner-up will be automatically promoted.
HOW ARE THE INTER-STEP PLAY-OFF FIXTURES DECIDED?
England, of course, isn’t a perfect shape that can be divided into equal sections. Initially, a sub-committee of the FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees looks at the clubs involved and where they fall geographically and the travelling it will entail.
Let’s then say there are three Step 4 clubs and three Step 5 clubs in a particular area, they will be paired on a Points Per Game sliding scale – eg the club with best PPG at Step 4 will play the club with the lowest PPG at Step 5.
The FA executive undertake some dry runs in the build-up but taking this year as an example, the tables are tight and one late goal on the final day can have a domino effect across the country so there’s not much point really looking until all the pieces are in place
Plus there is always the possibility for other situations to arise around ground grading failures and appeals. It’s a fast moving feast we may not always appreciate.
WHY ISN’T IT ONLY DONE ON PPG?
The regulations allow flexibility to protect sporting integrity but also deal with the reality of clubs at these levels having to make journeys from one end of the country to the other at such short notice.
WHEN DO WE FIND OUT WHO PLAYS WHO?
Work would have started last night and this morning. But with some leagues extending their season and results impacting permutations, the final announcement will likely drift into this week when the outcomes are known. Step 4 clubs will know they’re hosting and Step 5 clubs know they’re travelling. The FA won’t have told leagues the fixtures will be out no later than Wednesday.
Extending the season was a hot topic but this shows why that decision is not always straightforward because of the knock-on effect. The end of season date is set before a ball is kicked in July/August, hence the reluctance to extend.
Clubs want to know what leagues they are in as soon as possible and time is always tight to get the Club Allocations out before the AGMs.
IS THAT WHEN THE MAPS AND DARTS COME OUT?
A bit harsh! A lot of work goes into it. Again, England is not a perfect shape and you can’t please everyone. Even if you could, after one season everything would be different.
The FA see it as clubs having a 12-month contract with a league. Clubs may believe they are traditionally part of a certain league, but you can only allocate the clubs you have at that Step at the time into the framework. Allocations are based on where a club’s ground is located. Not, for example, where the manager and players live!
Like with the playoffs, the real work really starts when everything is known. That avoids any sub-conscious allocations that could come from constant update as the season end draws near. Again, one result on the final day can change everything.
SO WHEN ARE THE ALLOCATIONS OUT?
This season has only just finished! But the middle of May, all being well.