The National League has more than doubled its solidarity payment from the Premier League. Thanks in part to a new competition that will see youngsters from top-flight clubs’ academies take on National League sides, the figure will shift from £3m to north of £6m when the new campaign kicks off.
Focus for the National League will now switch to the EFL, and the ongoing attempts to secure a system of three-up, three-down from League Two which would put it in synch with the other leagues and replace the ludicrous current situation where only two clubs can be promoted.