During the 22/23 season, the National League saw one of the best title races since its inception between Wrexham Afc and Notts County, seeing both teams finish well over 100 points, but saw only Wrexham be promoted automatically. Notts County had to go through the playoffs, and whilst the two teams that season ultimately deserved to go up were promoted, it left the question of whether there should be more automatic places up for grabs, similarly to the leagues above.
The conversation of having more automatic playoff places was a regular theme last season as Wrexham and Notts County fought for promotion. Whilst this did bring a lot of extra attention to the 5th tier, this conversation has seemingly died down; however, just like the season before the National League, this season is proving to be just as competitive, with Chesterfield leading the way and already looking likely to claim the title and within the playoff places and outside of it there isn't a lot to separate each side with 6 points separating 4th place Solihull Moors and 11th place Eastleigh, proving the shear competitiveness of the league is still there and even more potent than last season.
Across the EFL, a different system for promotion and relegation takes place; in League 1, you have three teams that are promoted, which includes two automatic spots for 1st and 2nd and then playoffs from 3rd to 6th; in League 2, you have three automatic promotion spots for the top 3 and playoffs from 4th to 7th, and then in the Championship you have two automatic promotion places and then playoffs from 3rd to 6th just like League 1.
This variety in promotion in the EFL makes it easier for teams in those leagues to gain promotion elsewhere, as unlike the National League, they do not have to win the title to gain promotion automatically, giving teams in the leagues above a competitive advantage in comparison to the National League; additionally, the relegation spots across the EFL are just as uneven, with only two spots in League 2, four in League 1, just like the National League and three spots in the Championship.
This means that teams struggling in League 2 find it easier to escape relegation to the National League. In contrast, League 1 and the National League have double the relegation places, making it harder for some smaller teams to struggle to stay up, as relegation and promotion can drastically affect a club's finances.
Additionally, the system of promotion from non-league football to the football league has only been in existence since the 1986-87 season, accepting direct promotion rather than through a voting system and since then, it has only seen minimal changes with the addition of a playoff system only being introduced reluctantly in 2003 and ultimately it is proof of the EFL's worry about the National League, as over the years the highest level of non-league football has become a much stronger league and with this has seen many iconic league sides drop into the depths with many struggling to come back up such as Wrexham's 12-year wait until they had their promotion. Still, teams like Scunthorpe and Yeovil have gone even further to the National League North and South, respectively.
With the wide variety of ex-Efl sides in non-league football, that is an apparent enough reason as to why the format won't be changed as, ultimately, it is down to the teams above, and they aren't going to want to have more high-profile teams drop down into non-league as they can see how difficult it is to be promoted and ultimately want to control what they already have as much as they can and teams that are close to the brink of relegation would never openly agree to have more spots open: However, it is clear that the competitive balance of the National League is very high and is only getting better year after year and is one of the most closely competitive leagues as anyone can beat anyone in the league and whilst it does have its favourites to do well it is not as black and white and evident in comparison to other leagues as to which team is going to win each week.
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