Rochdale's Wembley win triggers more three-up calls

"Chief executive Phil Alexander has renewed the National League's call for the English Football League (EFL) to adopt a three-up, three-down promotion and relegation system between the two leagues. Rochdale came back from two goals down 12 minutes from the end of normal time to beat Boreham Wood on penalties in the promotion final at Wembley on Sunday. The win came two weeks after one of the most memorable games of the season across the top five leagues, when first Rochdale and then York scored in stoppage time in a league title decider."

"For long spells at Wembley, it appeared Rochdale would miss out on promotion despite amassing an incredible 106 points in their league campaign. Alexander feels that should focus minds within the EFL. "We think three up could be done, we think three up should be done," he said. "The EFL could take the higher ground and make that happen." EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and chief operating officer Nick Craig were both at Wembley."

"The National League feel there is broad agreement for its implementation and had hoped it would be voted on at a meeting of all 72 EFL clubs in March. That did not happen. Instead, it was listed as a discussion topic, meaning it could not be adopted for another year. In performance terms, three promotion places make sense. The top tier of the National League is virtually fully professional and the gap in standard to League Two is negligible."

"While two recently promoted teams Barrow and Harrogate have been relegated from the EFL this season, Bromley, promoted out of the National League two years ago, have just won the League Two title. Notts County and Chesterfield, who contested the 2023 National League promotion final, are facing each other in the League Two play-off semi-finals, while Wrexham, als"

Rochdale won the National League promotion final at Wembley after coming back from two goals down and then winning on penalties. The result followed a season marked by late goals and high points totals, including a 106-point league campaign. National League chief executive Phil Alexander renewed calls for the English Football League to adopt a three-up, three-down promotion and relegation system between the leagues. He said the EFL could take the lead to make the change happen. The National League believes there is broad agreement, but a planned vote among EFL clubs in March did not occur, leaving the proposal as a discussion item that delays adoption. Performance arguments cite a small gap between the National League and League Two, with recent examples of promoted and relegated clubs.

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