York City’s co-owner has written to the EFL and National League to complain about current format after finishing second only to lose out in play-offs to team that finished 23 points behind
YORK CITY have lodged a furious complaint with the EFL and National League over the «glaring imbalance» of the promotion system.
The Minstermen missed out on a League return for the first time since 2016 after finishing second to winners Barnet before losing in the play-offs to Oldham, who were 23 points and three places behind in the table.
York were also 13 points clear of third-placed Forest Green only to lose 3-0 in a one-off game against the fifth-placed Latics. Oldham then went on to beat Southend United in Sunday’s final.
Earlier this season National League clubs began the 3UP campaign to call for three clubs to win promotion every season. And York co-owner Julie-Anne Uggla has now asked the governing bodies to “reward merit and restore credibility to the system” by introducing immediate reform.
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“Such a glaring imbalance not only undermines sporting merit but erodes the very foundations of fair competition,” Uggla wrote in a letter to both leagues.
“I urge both governing bodies to urgently consider transitional reform, whether via immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the “3UP” model.
“At the very least, this season’s outcome should provoke an honest re-evaluation of what fairness in football truly means.
«For clubs, fans, and the integrity of the English football pyramid, it is time to reward merit and restore credibility to the system.»
The 3UP proposal has previously been discussed by the EFL board but any changes to promotion and relegation will require the backing of a majority of its 72 clubs in a vote.
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