The boss of the English Football League has admitted it is “indefensible” to have only one automatic promotion spot for National League clubs, following a debate in Parliament where Rochdale’s MP and others pressed the case for reform.
EFL Chair Rick Parry made the comments after MPs from across the country highlighted the sporting, economic and community case for allowing three clubs to be promoted from the National League each season, bringing the fifth tier into line with the rest of the professional football pyramid.
During a debate in the House of Commons last month, Sports Minister Ian Murray also welcomed the “3 Up” campaign, which is supported by Paul Waugh and other MPs who represent towns with non-league clubs.
The House of Commons debate was secured by Jonathan Brash, who set out how the current bottleneck unfairly penalises ambitious, well-run clubs and holds back towns where football clubs play a central civic role.
Following the pressure in Parliament, Mr Parry described the lack of three National League promotion slots as “indefensible” adding, “we must look down as well as up.”
Paul Waugh spoke during the debate to underline the issue from Rochdale’s perspective, as the club sits top of the National League following a period of renewal, community investment and rebuilding after relegation.
“Rochdale is a good example of why this matters,” Paul Waugh said. “We have a club that has stabilised, invested in its community and delivered on the pitch. But this isn’t just about Rochdale. Too many clubs have shown extraordinary consistency over a full season and still been denied promotion. That damages confidence in the game and in the pyramid.”
Speaking in the Commons, the Sports Minister also paid tribute to Rochdale supporters’ organisations, including The Dale Trust and Dale 1907.
Responding to Mr Waugh, he said: “He mentioned The Dale Trust and Dale 1907 and can I pay tribute to them? I think we tend to forget that right across the country, all of our football clubs have really strong community spirits. They have really strong charities and trusts attached to them and they do so much in the local community.”
Supporters of reform argue that National League clubs are now full-time, highly regulated and deeply embedded in their communities, and that continued stagnation risks discouraging investment, undermining sustainability and weakening trust in football governance.
The issue is expected to be discussed at forthcoming EFL meetings, with MPs, clubs and supporters calling for a formal debate and vote to ensure that promotion reflects sporting merit and the realities of the modern game.