ONLY one automatic relegation spot will exist in the Southern League this season.

Southern League officials clarified the destiny of clubs in the division after Blackfield & Langley’s voluntary double relegation to Wessex Premier.

The relegation picture in Southern Premier South was complicated further by Merthyr Town’s decision not to play this term due to COVID-19.

Merthyr will not be penalised for suspending their season and will remain in the division for the 2021-22 campaign.

Poole Town currently top the table, with Wimborne Town in 13th spot.

League rules state clubs in the 'bottom two places in each of the four divisions at step three' will be relegated.

In addition, the 'two third-from-bottom clubs with the lowest points per game’ across all four leagues will be relegated to a feeder pool and placed in step four based on geographical location.

This means that the bottom side in Southern Premier South will take the drop to step four.

The team directly above them will be placed into the feeder pool and could be relegated if their points-per-game ratio is low enough.

For example, as the league stands now, 20th-placed Beaconsfield Town would be relegated and Dorchester, in 19th, would slot into the feeder pool.

Last week, the Southern League announced a restart date of Saturday, December 12, with clubs permitted to play seven days earlier subject to arrangement.