The EFL and National League are continuing to discuss a major change to their promotion and relegation format.

Former Hartlepool United and Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison has thrown his support behind the 3UP campaign as the National League and EFL continue discussions over a possible change to promotion and relegation between non-league’s top tier and League Two.

As it stands, the bottom two clubs in the fourth tier are relegated into the National League and they are replaced by the step one champions and play-off winners. There has been one change in recent seasons with the play-off competition extended from four to six teams and that now comprises of an eliminator round, semi-final and final. However, the performances of several clubs in the immediate aftermath of promotion into League Two and a National League that is becoming stronger and more professional with every passing season has led to calls for three clubs to be promoted.

Rochdale secured a return to the EFL at Wembley having missed out in equally dramatic circumstances on the final day of the season. | Bradley Collyer/PA.

placeholder image — Rochdale secured a return to the EFL at Wembley having missed out in equally dramatic circumstances on the final day of the season. | Bradley Collyer/PA.

The 3UP campaign has captured headlines across the country in recent months - and Hutchison, who started his career with Pools before going on to play for the likes of Liverpool, West Ham United and Everton, has insisted there should a change to the current promotion set-up within the National League.

When asked if he backed the 3UP campaign, the former Pools midfielder told betGoodwin: “Absolutely. Second place should be rewarded with automatic promotion. I remember a recent season when two teams reached more than 100 points, but only one went up automatically and the other had to go through the play-offs. That does not feel right. Getting out of non-league and into the EFL is such a major achievement for a club. Two automatic promotion places, followed by a play-off system, makes complete sense.”

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‘It should be a tight campaign’

Chris Popov celebrating his goal. Hartlepool United v Woking. | Frank Reid.

Hutchison has kept a close eye on the National League this season as Pools have endured a challenging start to the campaign. Mixed results and performances led to the recent departure of head coach Lee Clark and there are a number of challenges lying ahead as Pools go head-to-head with a whole host of other former EFL stalwarts and up and coming clubs. The likes of Southend United, Harrogate Town and Boreham Wood are all likely to be in the mix for promotion into League Two come the business end of the season - and Hutchison believes that shows his former club are competing in ‘an unforgiving league’.

He said: “I think they can. The National League is a brutal competition because of the number of games and how hard it is to get out of it. I played in what is now League Two, which was the old Fourth Division, and that was hard enough. The National League is an unforgiving league. I do not think anyone will run away with it this season. There have been years when teams have reached 100 points, but I do not see that happening now. It should be a tight campaign.”

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