Thought I would open the debate for the season with the proposed league structure being disclosed.

From our perspective, NWML4 is probably where we are right now. We overachieved last season and have lost some of our more seasoned guys to retirement. Orrell and Wigan Bulldogs have moved to Div 3, and Mancunians and Hindley have moved to Div 5, with Eccleston Lions entering Div 4 with a competitive side again. Really enjoyed the league last season, Orrell are probably a bit stronger than Div3, but certainly Bury and Ashton will be looking at the upper end of the table this season.

I have read on twitter some sides are unhappy with their provisional placings, including one team who won their league but haven't been promoted!

Chester Gladiators have entered the Conference League South next year. Assume they've still got reserves in the NWML though?

Not sure about Chester entering the Conference South because they struggled for numbers a bit towards the end of the season when the ru clubs started their season so I can't see them having a reserve side either.

We (Ashton) enjoyed last season and are looking forward to this one, NWML 4 will be another close league again. From what I hear Wigan Bulldogs have some new lads from Wigan St Cuthberts so I think they'll go well in div 3. It'll be interesting to see how OSJ go in div 3 which looks fairly evenly matched too.

Think Chester in the Conference League South with be a Crusaders reserve team farmed out to Chester and then their NWML team will be roughly last year's team

I think we (Eccleston Lions) are much more sorted to Division 4, than Division 2 where we were last year. We lost 14 players from being promoted from Division 3 and found it really hard going, taking some real hidings. Looking forward to a competitive league this year. Where on Twitter are all the Leagues/discussions?

the only ones I've found are:
Premier: Halton Simms Cross, Widnes St Maries Vikings, Halton Farnworth Hornets, Clock Face Miners, Haresfinch, Haydock, Ashton Bears, Shevington, Bank Quay, Ulverston
Division 4: Widnes Tigers, Bury Broncos, Ashton Bears A, Chester Gladiators (A?), New Springs, Westhoughton Lions, Bolton Mets, Fitton Hill, Little Hulton Reds, Eccleston Lions

Looks like they've gone for 10 team divisions (but not seen every division), also heard Widnes West Bank are put in division 1, Rylands Sharks are fast tracked to division 2 and Hindpool are unhappy at being denied promotion

Here's the full list sent to clubs and your right Hindpool aren't happy. We earned that promotion fair and square and deserve a crack at division 1. We could potentially lose players if we don't go up but I expect these leagues will change a bit before March.

Premier
Ashton Bears
Bank Quay Bulls
Clock Face Miners
Halton Farnworth Hornets
Halton Simms Cross
Haydock
Shevington Sharks
Ulverston
Widnes st maries vikings
Haresfinch

Division 1
Bamber Bridge
Bold Miners
Chorley Panthers
Folly Lane
Heysham Atoms
Leigh East A
Thatto Heath Crusaders A
West Bank Bears
Wigan Spring View
Wigan St Judes A

Division 2
Rylands
Culcheth Eagles
Hindpool Tigers
Latchford Albion
Leigh Miners Rangers A
Irlam Hornets
Portico Vine
St Helens Wild Boars
Wigan St Patricks A
Woolston Rovers A

Division 3
Pilkington Recs A
Oldham St Annes A
Blackbrook A
Widnes West Bank A
Rochdale Mayfield A
Burtonwood Bridge
Accrington Panthers
Orrell St James
Wigan Bulldogs
Langworthy Reds

Division 4
Widnes Tigers
Bury Broncos
Ashton Bears A
Little Hulton Reds
Fitton Hill
Bolton Mets
Chester Gladiators
New Springs Lions
Westhoughton Lions
Ecceston Lions

Division 5
Cadishead Rhinos
Saddleworth Rangers A
Mancunians
Leyland Warriors
Crosfields A
Rylands Sharks A
Blackpool Scorpions
Rochdale Cobras
Bury Broncos A
Widnes St Maries Vikings A

Entry
Blackpool Sea Eagles
Blackpool Stanley
Burnley & Pendle
East Manchester Rangers
Eccles
Folly Lane A
Garswood stags
Hindley A
Ince Rose Bridge A
Latchford Albion A
Liverpool City RL
Liverpool Lions
Newton Storm
Waterhead A
West Craven Warriors
Wigan St Cuthberts
Wittworth spartons

Out of interest what are the league rules on promotion? Looks like Wigan Bulldogs were the only team promoted that weren't champions of their division and noone was promoted from division 3

Ulverston also went up to the Premier after finishing 2nd. I know they won the grand final but it was said at the start of the season that the play off were an added extra. Most people are/were under the impression it's 2 up 2 down. I understand that West Bank are too good to start from division 5 but its not right that we should be punished. We play all our games whereas other teams seem to pick and choose and they are no worse thought of.

The problem here is that last years Div 3 was such a false division. It was created as an A Team Division and so first team sides that might have been in or around a standard Div 3 level were pushed upwards or downwards. Suddenly however were treating Div 3 like it was a normal division...

Div3 had lots of cancelled games but at the start of last season I'm sure none of the teams that ended up struggling could foresee what was going to happen and in truth if they would have been able to get their regular sides out they would have been about the right level and the league would have been close. All if's and but's now but Div 3 looks to have a more balanced look about it and there doesn't seem to be many teams looking out of place, especially Div 4 so I think the structure about right. I suppose the best way for any team to justify a higher league placing is to earn it by promotion.

What do you consider earning promotion?

By finishing in a league position that merits it, my comment wasn't a sleight on Hindpool btw. My own view is that promotion should be the top 2 in every division with the play offs being a separate comp. The exception being the play-off winners in the prem who should be crowned champs per SL.

I didn't think it was MG I was just interested to see what your thoughts were and I totally agree with you. In fact everyone I spoke to holds the same view.
I heard that Folly Lane asked not to be promoted so in that case why couldn't West Bank take their place in the premier division. Not sure why a team would play all season to win their league then not want to step up

I think WB are returning at the level they left at so I think that's probably right. Each division is 10 teams so maybe the league wanted it that way rather than have 2 divisions with odd numbers & one teams from each not playing each week. The email says the structure is proposed so isn't yet fixed, if you haven't already done so maybe Hindpool can appeal?

Good to see the likes of Cadishead, Newton, Leyland & Eccleston return. It'll be interesting to see how Garswood Stags get on as well, they've set up about a mile from us. Didn't know anything about them until the leagues were sent out.