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English football could have a fifth division in the biggest shake-up of the domestic game for nearly half a century.

Plans have been put forward to clubs for consideration but they are understood to have the broad support of the Football League as the game seeks a solution to fixture congestion.

Within the proposals are the possibility of a winter break, with some rounds of the FA Cup being played in midweek.

The Football League wants four divisions of 20 teams below the Premier League by the 2019/20 season.

As there are currently 24 teams currently in each tier, it means there could be seven teams relegated from the Championship in 2019, with no clubs dropping out of League Two that year.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Russell Cheyne)

Instead, six new teams will be added to the newly-formed League Three, taking the total number of professional clubs to 100.

It it envisaged that the new clubs will come from the National League.

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The debate, however, will reopen on the prospect of Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic moving south to play in England.

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey would not rule it out but conceded that such a move would be difficult.

He said: ”The whole discussion can be had. But I suspect the wider this gets drawn, the harder it would be to deliver to our clubs and the rest of the stakeholders in the game."

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The Football League has consisted of four national divisions since 1958, when Divisions Three north and south were merged.

The Premier League was formed in 1992 leaving the Football League as three divisions, currently with 24 teams in each.

A vote on the proposed changes will be held by Football League clubs in the summer of 2017.

The plan would need approval from 90 per cent - or 65 of the current 72 clubs - to get the green light.

Harvey admitted the biggest problem will be persuading Championship clubs to vote in the changes knowing that an extra four of them will find themselves a division further away from the Premier League.

"Potentially, in the first year, of course," he admitted.

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"But thereafter your percentage chance of promotion is increased with four less teams. There's always going to be that first year where that particular set of circumstances will prevail.

"We are looking at change for 2019/20 so clubs have plenty of time to see this coming. We have to resolve how relegation and promotion would be dealt with in the lead-up to that period."

Harvey ruled out the possibility of Premier League clubs fielding so-called 'B' teams in the lower divisions.

But he believes they could be involved in a revamped Football League Trophy - until recently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Bradford's joint chairman Mark Lawn has branded the proposal "ridiculous".

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"We've had this structure for years because it has suited the majority of clubs, so why change it?" Lawn told Press Association Sport.

"Why? What they don't understand is that currently we have 23 home games. We need the crowds. We don't get the money Championship clubs get.

"Losing four home games means we lose four incomes. It's not so bad for us but for teams like Accrington and York that's a lot of money. It's ridiculous."

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Lawn said he had not heard about the League's plans for a radical shake-up until advised by Press Association Sport.

"They certainly haven't come out and consulted with all the clubs because this is the first I've heard about it," he added.

"If we were voting now I'd be voting against it. The only reason I can think of is that, yet again, the Championship clubs want it."

Peterborough's director of football Barry Fry said his club had not been notified of the governing body's intentions either.

"I'm very surprised with all my contacts in the game that I didn't know about this already," he told Press Association Sport.

"Until I see the proposals and how it affects the clubs I can't really comment."

An FA Spokesman said: "We have said for some time that English football needs to look again at the congested fixture schedule for the benefit of all. As such, we have been discussing initial ideas with the Premier League and Football League.

“These are interesting draft proposals and we look forward to further discussions over the coming months.”

Key points to potential Football League overhaul

A five-division professional league of 20 teams each for the 2019-20 season.

The Premier League will be the top division with the Football League administering the next four divisions.

Six new teams will be added, along with two promoted teams from the National League creating 100 professional teams.

Promotion to and relegation from the Premier League will be retained at three places.

No teams will be relegated from the Football League in 2018-19.

Football League clubs will vote on the proposals next summer.

The League Cup will be retained in its current format to include two-legged semi-finals.

The Football League Trophy could include a group structure of three games and a knock-out thereafter.

The Football League Trophy could also include Premier League B teams.

Further discussions are planned on the removal of FA Cup replays, a winter break and the future of the Community Shield.