All National League fixtures will kick off three minutes late on November 15 as part of a concerted campaign to secure a third promotion place for fifth-tier clubs into League Two.
The English Football League (EFL) has so far resisted calls for an extra promotion berth, but the National League is continuing to push for change.
This symbolic delay will see all 12 matches across the division on November 15 commence at 3.03pm, specifically designed to highlight the ongoing issue.
The campaign also enjoys the full support of the 48 clubs in National Leagues North and South, who will be participating in FA Trophy action on the same day.
National League chair Jack Pearce articulated the clubs’ stance, stating: “Our 72 clubs – the majority of whom are over a century old and household names – simply won’t accept the current circumstances blocking them from parity and fairness with all the other professional teams in England.
“Since launching 3UP, we have been contacted by a remarkable number of EFL clubs who are privately supportive of the change but haven’t even been given the chance as a group of clubs to formally discuss it.”
The National League remains resolute in its push for this significant structural alteration.
The change appears to have strong support among fans, with a Football Supporters’ Association poll commissioned earlier this year finding 93 per cent of fans surveyed across all divisions backed an extra promotion place from the National League to League Two, with 83 per cent of fans who follow EFL clubs supportive.
The PA news agency understands the issue has been discussed by both the EFL board and its clubs since the National League launched the 3UP campaign in February.
The discussions are ongoing and the issue remains under consideration.
In February, the EFL said changing the number of promotion and relegation places between the fourth and fifth tiers needed to be part of a broader package of reforms across all levels of the game.
The change in regulation would require a majority of the 72 EFL clubs to vote in favour, plus a majority among Championship clubs.
