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As we previously reported the two relegated clubs, Oldham Athletic and Bury, have been replaced by Hull City and Stoke City but there have been other changes to the division that will see the Clarets play two extra games next season. In fact Bury, along with Chesterfield, Mansfield Town and Scarborough have resigned from the Avon Insurance League.
The new rules allow sides relegated from the Premiership to keep their reserve teams in the Premier Reserve League indefinitely (previously there had been a two year limit) but that only applies if the first team does not fall further than the First Division of the Nationwide Football League.
Sheffield Wednesday though will be in Division Two next season and so their reserve team must now play in the Avon League and will come into our division although one of Wolves or Wednesday’s neighbours Sheffield United will depart depending on which of the two wins the Play Off Final.
However Bradford City have opted to move their reserve team into the Avon Insurance League after a season that saw them lose 22 of 28 games with their only wins coming against Birmingham and Wednesday (twice) and they too will join a league that is now increased to twelve clubs.
The league next season will be made up of the following clubs:
Barnsley, Bradford City, Burnley, Huddersfield Town, Hull City, Preston North End, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall and either Sheffield United or Wolves.