Promotion seeking clubs in the Southern Counties East have received a welcome boost.

From next season a four-team play-off system will be in operation in the SCEFL Premier Division - a move that should create more excitement towards the latter stages of the season.

Clubs in step five are currently up against it in their promotion aims. League winners go up automatically while the second placed team must face an Isthmian South East side away from home in a promotion/relegation play-off match.

There's been calls for a proper play-off system, as happens at every other league above the SCEFL in the football pyramid right up the the Championship, and that's now set to happen from next season, subject to FA Council approval.

The change from the 2024/25 season will see the introduction of a traditional four-team play-off in each of the 16 step-five divisions. It would mean the winners of the SCEFL Premier Division moving into the Isthmian League and those finishing second to fifth challenging for the other promotion spot, firstly with a semi-final (2nd v 5th/3rd v 4th) and then a final. It's a method that has worked successfully at all levels of football but a promotion avenue absent at step five.

Whitstable Town manager Marcel Nimani was one of those voicing his frustration, saying last month that denying step five level a proper play-off system was disrespecting the level

He said: "Step five deserves far more respect than it is getting.

"Every other league gets a play-offs for the top five. I don't understand why that isn't offered at step five because it kills the season off.

"There are about six clubs [in the SCEFL Premier] with facilities and finances that are ready to compete in the league above, why not provide that opportunity? That is what sport and competition is all about."

Clubs would have to meet the eligibility criteria for promotion, which includes passing a ground grading assessment.

The changes would result in the bottom four teams relegated from the Isthmian South East automatically. (There are eight step four divisions and 16 step five nationwide). At present the bottom two go down automatically from step four and the two teams immediately above the drop zone face a home game against a second-placed team at step five in a relegation/promotion decider.

With an additional 16 teams being promoted from step five only one will be relegated from the SCEFL Premier Division for the 2024/25 season before reverting back to two.

The FA say: "These changes reflect a long-term aim of The FA to create consistency at each Step level of the NLS pyramid."