Isthmian League to challenge restructuring

The Isthmian League (currently sponsored by Ryman) has announced it will be taking legal action to challenge the proposed restructuring of the non-league pyramid, claiming it has the support of the majority of it's clubs.

The current setup allows for the respective champions of each of the Premier Divisions of the three 'feeder leagues' (namely the Isthmian, Northern and Southern Leagues) to be promoted to the Football Conference.

Proposed restructuing at the end of the 2003-2004 season would see the formation of two 'Second Division' Conferences, (namely North and South) to replace the three feeder leagues. The membership of the two new Conferences would be made up from the teams finishing in 2nd to 13th place in their respective Premier Divisions (36 teams) and the winners of a series of playoffs for the remaining six places (total 44 teams).

At the conclusion of the first season of the two new Conferences' existence, the respective Champions of Conference North and Conference South would gain automatic promotion to the Football Conference (criteria being met of course). The remaining promotion place would then be decided by playoffs between the teams finishing 2nd to 5th in the two (Second Division) Conferences.

Note: This means that there will still only be three teams relegated from the Football Conference and three teams replacing them from the two new Conferences.