Plans to create a new UniBond division next season were boosted this week by the NCEL, reports The Non-League Paper.

An extra team will be allowed to go up from the Premier Division to help get the new Step 4 competition off the ground.

Ten clubs from the league have applied to move up.

The new division will be created by splitting the UniBond One into Northern and Midland regions as part of restructuring.

NCEL secretary Barry Wood said his competition would allow a fourth club to move up but it would lead them to ask the FA for permission to take more than one club from their own feeder, the Step 7 Central Midlands League.

"We do not want to prevent clubs going forward, and will stretch to allowing four to go up if it means the new UniBond division goes ahead.

"But, the loss of four clubs will see our Premier Division drop from 20 to 16.

"We will have to make up the numbers from Division One, but that currently has only 17 teams, so we are faced with a situation where our own league may not become viable.

"In recent years, the Central Midlands have allowed only their champion club to go up.

"We will be talking to them and also to the FA to see if we can take more as a one-off."