Khalsa on the up as promotion set to be confirmed

The Willenhall-based club are on course to play in either the Northern or Southern League next season after the FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committee recommended pushing ahead with a long-planned restructure which will see more than 100 clubs move divisions.

Khalsa are one of 20 who will make the jump to step four of the non-league game, after recording the best overall record in the Midland League Premier Division across the last two seasons.

But the news is not so good for their tenants at the Aspray Arena, Dudley Town, who appear set to miss out on promotion from the West Midlands League by the narrowest of margins.

The FA’s plan will see the three teams with the best points per game record over the last two seasons go up. As things stand, Dudley will lose out on a top three finish to Wolves Casuals by less than 0.3 points.

No-one is celebrating – or commiserating – just yet, with the process for finalising the restructure not due to be completed for at least another month.

Clubs have until the end of this week to have their say on the committee’s recommendation, which must then be ratified by the FA council.

Those clubs eligible for promotion will then be invited to apply, with those applications then ratified by an FA sub-committee in early May.

The restructure, which was originally due to take place last year, is unlikely to be without controversy.

Results from a 2019-20 season which was originally declared null and void when the pandemic began now counting toward the points-per-game calculation.

There has also been a reduction in the number of clubs set to be promoted since the reorganisation was first drawn up nearly two years ago.

Originally, four teams were due to be promoted from the West Midlands Premier Division at the end of the 2019-20 season.

The restructure will see the creation of a new division at step four of the pyramid while the West Midlands League’s Premier Division, founded in 1889, will be one of six divisions axed at step six.

An FA statement explained: “As part of the proposals, 110 clubs would be upwardly moved within the pyramid at steps four to six in order to facilitate the new divisions, protecting the integrity of the NLS whilst supporting clubs with a desire and ambition to progress, without undermining the stability of the system.

“The restructure will have a positive impact on a significant number of clubs, supporting them with reduced travel and costs and providing greater opportunities for generating income via localised fixtures.

“The FA Council will be considering the recommendations of the committees in due course and clubs and leagues will continue to be kept updated on this process.”