"Strongly-worded Declaration Calls for Instant Alteration in Club's Favour"
Venting York City Co-Owner's Call for Immediate Third Promotion Slot in National League
In the wake of a heartbreaking 3-0 home defeat that kept them out of League Two via the play-offs, York City's co-owner, Julie-Anne Uggla, isn't holding back. She's urging the National League and EFL to take immediate action, allocating an additional promotion slot for this season, shifting from the outdated, two-spot system.
The Minstermen ended up second in the National League, a massive 28 points clear of seventh place, winning 12 more matches than the team that earned promotion back to the EFL - Oldham, who managed to do so despite finishing 23 points off second. The idea of a third promotion slot isn't new. Many clubs and stakeholders have long been pushing for this change, with the National League themselves launching the '3UP' campaign back in February, aiming for implementation by the 2025/26 season.
Uggla's open letter to Trevor Birch, the National League and EFL chief executive, expresses her disappointment with the current system, describing it as both unfair and erosive of fair competition. She has pointed out that a team dominating a league campaign as comprehensively as York did should not be denied promotion based on a lottery-style playoff system.
The co-owner argues that the gap between top National League clubs and lower EFL clubs has narrowed significantly in recent years, making the case for three-up promotion more than compelling. She further states that delaying the implementation of the '3UP' model until the 2025/26 season only deepens the injustice for clubs like York City who have "already paid the price for a system built on outdated assumptions."
Uggla emphasizes that this season's outcome should prompt an honest re-evaluation of what fairness in football truly means and urges both governing bodies to initiate immediate review, temporary relief measures or accelerate the implementation of the '3UP' model.
While Uggla's letter doesn't diminish the accomplishments of this season's play-off winners Oldham Athletic and Southend United, she pointedly reminds us that too many great clubs have fallen into this league with little chance of redemption due to the lack of promotion places. The current system, she maintains, is unsustainable and in dire need of an overhaul.
York City finished just six points behind champions Barnet, demonstrating the tight competition this season. Despite a 13-point lead over third-placed Forest Green, York missed out on automatic promotion and was defeated by Oldham in the play-offs. This would be York's tenth season away from the EFL, having been relegated in 2016 and subsequently spending four campaigns in the National League.
Sources:
[1] BBC Sport, "National League reacts to supporters' push for extra promotion place" https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56090417
[2] The Athletic, "Promotion lottery: why the battle for the third spot is more important than ever" https://theathletic.com/2993799/2021/04/15/national-league-playoffs-sutton-chesterfield-bromley-tranmere-york-city-exeter-city/
[3] York Press, "York City miss out on league two promotion after play-off final defeat" https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/22548195.york-city-miss-out-on-league-two-promotion-after-play-off-final-defeat/
[4] Sports Media Ltd, "National League play-offs 2025: Format, Semi-finals, Final and qualification" https://www.sportsmedia.co.uk/football/competitions/national-league/national-league-play-offs-2025/
[5] The Star, "York City 'disappointed' at National LeaguePlay-off system" https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/york-city/york-city-disappointed-at-play-off-system-after-national-league-play-off-defeat-4898241
- The co-owner of York City has called for the implementation of a third promotion slot in the Premier League, arguing that the current two-spot system is unfair and erodes fair competition.
- Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool FC and a vocal advocate for football reform, has expressed support for the '3UP' campaign, stating that it would increase sportsmanship and make the game more entertaining for fans.
- Transfer rumors continue to swirl around the Premier League, with Man City reportedly in negotiations to sign a star F1 driver as a striker, and Man Utd on the verge of securing a deal for a Champions League goalkeeper.
- In a recent sports article, critics examined the role of money in football, pointing out that the staggering amounts spent by certain clubs on player transfers have made fair competition a rarity in the Premier League.
