PROMOTION from the Hellenic League and Western League Premier Divisions will become a lot easier after the FA Leagues Committee decided to increase the amount of promotion spots to Step Four.

Plans to reduce the number of Step Five divisions from 12 to 14 for the start of the 2013-14 season, which would've seen Slimbridge and Winterbourne move from the Hellenic League Premier Division and join Hallen in a new Western League, were scrapped at a meeting held at Wembley Stadium.

Instead, all Step 3 divisions, such as the Southern League Premier, will be increased to 24 clubs and a number of additional clubs will be given the opportunity to be promoted from their feeder leagues for the start of the 2013-14 season, although the process is yet to be agreed.

Yate have stated their desire to push for promotion from Southern League Division One South and West and their chances of doing that next season will be boosted by this development.

Division One South and West, the Midlands Division and the two Northern Leagues at Step Four will keep 22 clubs, but the Isthmian League Division One North and Division One South will be increased to 24 clubs to create the two extra relegation spots, allowing two extra teams to come up from Step Five.

Under the old system, winning the Hellenic League or Western League was not enough to guarantee promotion even if a club has the right facilities, as there were only 12 spots available from 14 leagues.

The new system will also make it easier for teams who finish second or third to go up if the title winners in their league do not have the correct ground grading for Southern League football, but only one team will be promoted from any Step Five competition.

The Western League Premier Division had 18 teams last season, but would have to increase it to a minimum of 20 for the start of the 2013-14 season, with a maximum of 22 clubs allowed in each Step Five division.

All clubs must meet the National Ground Grading Category F, which includes floodlights and 100 seats, by March 31 2013 to play in the Hellenic Premier or Western Premier Leagues the following season.

It was also agreed in the meeting that discussions should take place with all leagues to look at the possibility that, regardless of any vacancies occurring, the club finishing in the bottom positions in divisions at Steps One to Five of the National League System will be relegated.