Vauxhall Motors' hopes of promotion have moved a step closer after the FA Council confirmed that the restructuring of the non-league pyramid between steps 4 and 6 will go ahead.

The restructuring was planned for last summer but because of the ongoing Coronavirus health crisis the plan was put on the back burner.

Now some 110 clubs across the country can apply to be “moved upwards” under the ruling by the F A.

The Motormen will be one of the clubs seeking an overdue promotion, having finished in the runners-up spot two seasons ago before heading the North West Counties League Division One South in both the 'null and void' campaign of 2019-20 and the curtailed 2020/21 season.

Vauxhall would appear to be an obvious candidate for the uplift but they still need to satisfy the FA on a couple of key issues over the above their playing record.

Motors' application will be received by the governing body next week and by the middle of next month, all the applications will have been considered, at which point the FA will release their plans for each league for the forthcoming 2021/22 season.

Vauxhall vice chairman Alan Bartlam said: “It is tremendous news. This was expected but until you hear for certain there is always the possibility that the plan could backfire.

"Now we need to satisfy the FA that we are a genuine candidate for what essentially is our overdue promotion for our club."

Should the Ellesmere Port club be successful in their application, as is anticipated, it will be another significant step on their road to recovery after the club resigned from the Football Conference in 2014 due to mounting financial pressures.

Vauxhall will share their Rivacre Park home ground with City of Liverpool FC next season, bringing in welcome extra venue.