Traditional four-team play-offs are set to be introduced for all Step 5 leagues in the non-league pyramid from next season.

And the move has been warmly welcomed by Badshot Lea co-manager Gavin Smith, Farnham Town boss Paul Johnson and Alton manager Kevin Adair.

This season only a second-place finish in the Combined Counties Premier Division South will secure a play-off place, with a play-off against a club at Step 4.

The move to traditional four-team play-offs for the 2023-24 season still needs to be ratified by the FA Council, but Smith, Johnson and Adair agree it will give more clubs something to play for at the end of the season.

“This is something I’ve gone on about for ages,” said Smith.

“It would give the teams in eighth and ninth place something to play for.

“It would also keep players interested and they maybe wouldn’t leave clubs. You’d be able to sign players and give them something to play for.

“It changes things tactically, as if you know you’re going to finish in the play-offs you might rest players for games.

“I’ve looked at Step 4 and at that level sometimes the top two teams are 20 points ahead of who they would face in the play-offs, but everyone knows what the situation is before the season starts.”

Johnson said: “We can’t hide away from the fact we’re aiming for promotion next season – but if we can’t quite get that top spot, this would give us the fallback of the play-offs.

“If there were play-offs this year we would have a chance of getting that fifth spot.”

Adair added: “Play-offs would give the teams in seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth something to play for to keep their season going.

“They’ve got play-offs at Step 6, Step 4, Step 3, Step 2 and Step 1, so I’ve never understood why they don’t have play-offs at Step 5.”