STRATEGY for ATTAINING and MAINTAINING a 48 TEAM LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE (LSL) incorporating an Agreement with the LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (LCFL)

At the Leagues’ 2023 AGM, clubs raised concerns about the high number of teams who have resigned from the league in recent seasons and the MC’s inability to fill any vacancies.. It was muted that the current agreement between the LSL and LCFL,, whilst set up with good intensions some years ago, was in the current climate, not fit for purpose.
The League MC tasked the League President, David Jamieson, to put a strategy together which was more relevant to the current situation. The League is appreciative of the support of the LCFL and the previously known leagues prior to the merger over many seasons.
The President’s strategy was approved at the MC September meeting. It was also decided that the President, would meet with the LCFL General Secretary Chris Palmer to explain the strategy in detail. The President understood that the strategy would be on the agenda of LCFL Council Meeting to be held on Monday November 6th.
The President and LCFL General Secretary meeting took place in the early days of October and as of today the President or League have had no further communication from the LCFL.
At the November Meeting of the Leagues MC it was decided that the League would press ahead with the new strategy in the absence of any communication from the LCFL.
As a Regional Feeder League to the FA’s NLS, we have a responsibility to provide clubs within Leicestershire, Rutland and the surrounding counties with a pathway into the system and are committed to support clubs who wish to progress along that path.

STRATEGY for ATTAINING and MAINTAINING a 48 TEAM LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE (LSL)incorporating an Agreement with the LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (LCFL)
Introduction
The LSL, as a Regional Feeder League to the FA’s NLS, (Premier Division ONLY) is committed to providing a pathway for ambitious clubs within the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland and adjoining counties to achieve that aim. It would also give the opportunity for less ambitious clubs to try their hand at competing in a higher grade of football.
The LSL is working within the guidelines outlined in the document under the heading of APPENDIX A - Regional NLS Feeder Leagues Regulations which can be found in the FA 2023/24 Handbook pages 451- 453.
One pathway into the LSL is through a relationship with the LCFL
1. BOTH the LSL and the LCFL agree to adopt SCOR 22E as agreed that any application from the LCFL for promotion to the LSL would need to be submitted to BOTH League Secretaries by January 31st of the current playing season.
2. The LSL will continue to implement the following SCOR rules.
a) SCOR 2(B) - “This competition shall consist of not more than 48 teams as approved by the Sanctioning Authority unless special dispensation is granted (ie request by the FA as agreed by all leagues).
b) SCOR 2(G) “This competition shall apply annually to the Sanctioning Authority and the constituent teams of clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 16 teams.
c) The LSL agree at all times to operate within the Football Associations NLS Regulations appertaining to the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues Regulations found under Appendix A.

3. PROMOTION and RELEGATION
a) The LSL will guarantee TWO places, namely the Champions and Runners Up of the top division of the LCFL. In the event of any one of the top two teams not taking up this right then their places can be offered to the 3rd and 4th placed club respectively. The proposed promoted clubs must meet the minimum Ground Grading Criteria or in the process of reaching the standard to be accepted. Clubs offered a place, not quite at the required Ground Grading Criteria, will under these circumstances be required to meet the Criteria within a specified timescale at the sole discretion of the Management Committee of the LSL. Clubs failing to meet the required criteria at the end of the playing season will have their membership terminated.
b) The LSL agrees NOT to approach any other clubs in the LCFL BUT will, on application from a club from the LCFL, deal with the application within the regulations laid down.
c) The LSL will remove from its membership any club whose team finish in the bottom position in Division TWO twice within 3 seasons and offer them back to the League from whence they came.
d) The LSL will release any club from Division TWO who feel they are unable to compete at that level. Providing the club decides to carry on at a lower level then, no financial penalty will be imposed by the LSL, who reserve the right to vary the decision dependent on the circumstances.
A Joint League Panel to consist of TWO representatives each from the LSL and the LCFL will meet from time to time to review movements between the two leagues and any challenges in Saturday Leagues football in general which would enhance football within Leicestershire and Rutland.

4. CLUBS APPROACHING the LSL for MEMBERSHIP.
a) The LSL will receive applications from clubs within the borders of Leicestershire and Rutland and also from clubs in neighbouring counties within a reasonable travelling distance.
b) The Management Committee of the LSL will review the application and decide which level best fits the club and if necessary call the club in for interview which will be in front of a three person panel from the League.
c) In all cases, where the Management Committee of the LSL, feel the applying club, in the leagues’ opinion, does not meet the requirement then the League will recommend applying for membership of the LCFL.
d) The LSL will accept any club relegated from STEP 6 or a higher STEP of the National League System as instructed by the Football Association. Applications from clubs operated in other NLS Feeder Leagues will also be considered subject to the regulations.
e) The LSL will require all applying clubs to meet the current
Ground Grading criteria but will consider applications from clubs who are working to attain the standard at the sole discretion of the Leagues Management Committee.

5. This paper will be reviewed from time to time dependant on circumstance prevailing at any future time as and when necessary.