Four times FA Vase winners Whitley Bay will be staying in the Northern League next season.

There was speculation last week that Whitley might be cherry picked by the FA for the Evostik League First Division North in the new season, even though they didn't finish in the top two as required.

But a meeting of the FA's Leagues committee has formed the leagues at Step 4 and above for next season, and Whitley Bay aren't named in the Evostik.

It now means that West Allotment, who finished third bottom of the First Division last season, will definitely be relegated to the Northern League Second Division.