When direct promotion was first offered 39 years ago only the champions went up with a second promotion place via play-offs added for the 2002-03 season.
The National League is now pushing for a third spot, launching its campaign last month.
“There is a blockage in the jump between the National League and EFL. Two-up, two-down is simply unfair,” said National League general manager Mark Ives.
“I would think the vast majority of fans, looking at it objectively, would see the unfairness. We want a fairer system.”
League Two clubs would have to vote in favour of a third promotion/relegation spot which Barnet boss Dean Brennan thinks is unlikely to happen.
“I don’t think EFL clubs will vote for it because they have too much to lose financially. The gulf between League Two and the National League is massive especially with the Sky deal they now have,” he said.
“It just seems crazy as you work down the pyramid the promotion places become fewer,” said York’s Adam Hinshelwood.
“For me it’s a League Three, it’s not like it’s a part-time league as it was years ago and the gap is getting closer all the time.”
Cotterill brought Cheltenham Town into the EFL for the first time in 1999 and has always felt there should be more opportunities for ambitious clubs.
“I was asked the same question 25 years ago at Cheltenham – I was an advocate of it then and am not still an advocate now just because I’m back in it with Forest Green.
“I think it would freshen up the whole pyramid,” he said.
Getting out of the National League is competitive enough but getting into it is also proving a titanic tussle in the North and South divisions.
In the National League North this weekend two former EFL clubs meet with the leaders Scunthorpe United at home to second-placed Chester with a crowd of more than 8,000 packing in to Glanford Park.
One of those two could be taking the place of Ebbsfleet United next season.
The Kent side have won just two of their 38 games this season and will be relegated if they fail to win at Aldershot and even three points may not be enough depending on results elsewhere.
There may not be many reasons for Fleet fans to celebrate Non-League Day come five o’clock Saturday evening
You can keep up to date with the latest from the National League on Sport’s dedicated pages.
