relegation to and from the Premier and First Division.

But it seems, with the season already half way over, several local fans and even club coaches were not aware of the change which will involve an end of season play-off between the second from last team in the Premier Division and the runners-up in the First Division.

While prior to the advent of the eight-team Premiership the tradition had been for two teams to make the drop and a corresponding number to rise up, this year has but only team from each division guaranteed movement up or down.

The top placed team from the First Division will automatically earn promotion to the top flight, just as the eighth-placed side in the Premiership will be relegated.

However, a home and away play-off system will determine what happens next.

The play-off will feature the seventh placed Premier club against the second placed First Division outfit in a do-or-die battle.

But, although the concept is new to many, the changes were actually implemented back in May, 1999, when it was decided to streamline the Premier Division from 10 to include just eight teams.

That plan was held up in recent seasons through the folding of Hotels International and Vasco, but with no further collapses foreseen, it would appear the BFA will finally get the chance to see the new plan in action.

"This is something that the clubs were informed about when the changes were presented by the restructuring committee, and should not come as a big surprise,'' said Craig Tyrrell, the BFA's competitions chairman. "The idea is to give the teams in the Premier and First Divisions a second chance.

"It had been bantered about that there would be just one team go up and one be relegated, but this format is what was decided upon.

"I think it will prove very exciting for the fans, who I hope will see this as a chance to come out and see two teams in a do-or-die situation.'' One coach fully aware of the format is St. George's' Neil Paynter, who wants no part of any play-off if at all possible.

And, with his side holding firm to the top spot in the lower division, they now control their own destiny.

"I'm playing under the premise that only one team goes up ... and we want to be that one,'' said Paynter, whose side lead second place Paget by a point, but have a game in hand. "I don't want my players to get complacent.''