SHILDON, Stockton Town and Hebburn could be promoted from the Northern League under new restructuring plans proposed by the Football Association.

The FA postponed a restructure in 2020 because of the pandemic, and some thought that they would do the same again for 2021 because most leagues haven't been able to play since November and were declared null and void.

However, the FA's alliance and leagues committee has decided to press ahead with its plans to create a new league at step 4 in the national non league system - the same level as Dunston UTS and Marske United - and together with a reshuffle at step 5 wants to promote 110 clubs throughout the country.

The new league, which will be run by the Northern Premier League, is going to invite three Northern League clubs to join, based on their average points per game over the last two curtailed seasons.

Stockton were on the brink of winning the 2020 Northern League when the pandemic came, with Shildon looking good for the runners-up spot, while Hebburn were six points ahead this season. On the average points calculation over the two seasons, Stockton are 2.47, Hebburn 2.21 and Shildon are 2.07 - a slender 0.02 ahead of North Shields.

Shildon manager Danny Moore said: "I think all three clubs deserve to go up, because they have always said that they would like promotion."

The FA council is expected to confirm the plan later this month. It would mean that there would be five former Northern League clubs in the same division, as Marske and Dunston UTS have won promotion in previous years.