EFL to discuss National League third promotion spot

The EFL Board will discuss the National League's demand for three promotion and relegation places on Thursday ahead of it potentially being put on the agenda for its 72-club meeting next month.

The National League has waged a long campaign to increase the number of promotion slots to League Two from the current two to three to bring it in line with the situation that exists between the Premier League and Championship.

Historically, clubs were only admitted to the EFL through a vote of member clubs.

Automatic promotion was adopted in 1987, with Scarborough the first to benefit.

From 2003, two clubs have been promoted, with the second spot coming via post-season play-offs.

Only the winners of the National League secure an automatic spot into the EFL, with sides finishing between second and seventh in the regular season competing in the play-offs for the second spot.

In November, the National League staged a round of matches where all games kicked off three minutes late to highlight their campaign.

It has also been debated in Parliament after it was brought forward by Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool.

Mr Brash told the debate this was not about a radical restructure of the football pyramid, but "a straightforward reform to make the system fairer, more competitive and more sustainable".

From the last 10 seasons, all but four of the clubs to gain promotion from the National League are still in the EFL with Wrexham now as high as the Championship and three others in League One.