For the normal ranking of sides into divisions, upon the receipt of entries, the bye-laws state that the two highest ranked sides will be promoted to the next higher division and the two lowest ranked sides will be relegated to the next lower division.
Sometimes, we may need to set up divisions with more or less than the normal 10 sides due to the number of entries received for the new league season.
To avoid unnecessary dispute, the League Panel will introduce the policy set out below to handle these situations with promotion or relegation of more than two sides between divisions.
For situations requiring PROMOTION of more than two sides between two divisions.
First, we will follow the bye-law to have two sides promoted and two sides relegated.
If there are additional vacant positions in a higher division, we will fill up the acancies in following order 1. promote the side previously ranked as third from the top of the lower division to the higher division; 2. retain the side ranked as second from the bottom of the higher division, that is relegate one side only; 3. promote the side ranked as fourth from the top of the lower division to the higher division; 4. retain the side ranked as bottom of the higher division, that is no relegation; 5. promote the side ranked as fifth in the lower division to the higher division and continue this policy to promote the next lower ranked side to the higher division if vacancies require to be filled.
For situations where a higher division has more than 10 sides, and RELEGATION of more than two sides is necessary:
First we will follow the bye-law to have two sides promoted and two sides relegated. Then more sides from the bottom of recent league will be relegated until it reaches 10 sides
For example, a division of 12 sides has to be changed to 10 sides when the new season starts. To reduce the division to 10 sides, the sides ranked as third and fourth from the bottom of the league table will also be relegated. That is, the three or four lowest ranked sides will be relegated to the lower division to ensure only 10 sides remain in the higher division. For higher divisions with more than 12 sides, this relegation policy will be continued until only 10 sides remain in the higher division.
Before a league season starts, we will notify all Convenors of the divisions which may require relegation of more than two sides to adjust the number of sides in the division before the following season starts.