The NWCL have been awarded the rights from the FA to run a regionalised Div1 next season. I've been told that to make these new leagues viable, the FA will be cherry picking teams that apply from the step 7 leagues in the North West Region. Also the FA are reducing the size of all step 5/6 leagues down to 20 clubs maximum per division. There has been talk about the threat of numerous relegations from the 14 step 6 leagues. There is another new step 6 league being created in Essex/South East Anglia. The FA will be looking at laterally moving clubs to fill these new leagues, before relegating any clubs. I'm aware that Whitehaven Amateurs & Cleator Moor Celtic are keen to join the new NWCL1 North. Whether Penrith are moved across, especially if they're relegated only time will tell.
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