Football: Football League wants new five-league, 100-team system

Under the proposal, which would be the biggest change since the Premier League was founded in 1992, the Football League would create an extra division with 20 teams in each from 2019-20.

It would mean England had 100 teams in five divisions, up from 92. Currently, there are 24 teams in the Championship, League One and League Two.

Under the proposal, the Football League would become a four division competition below the Premier

League, including a new League Three, with 100 clubs competing across the professional game.

The Football League says the move would tackle fixture congestion and boost the finances of its members.

The Premier League and the FA have backed the proposal "in principle".

In a statement, the Football League says the proposal would reduce the number of midweek matches from next season’s nine in the Championship, seven in League One and six in League Two to just one in the Championship, League Two and the new League Three and none in League One in 2019/20.

The current 72 Football League clubs will decide whether they support the move at their annual general meeting in June 2017.

"There are clear benefits for everyone," Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey told BBC Sport.

"It is about taking a step back to try to work out what is best for English football.

"We hope that the Football League taking this first step is the catalyst for future change."