FL ▁clubs ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁and ▁League ▁ 1 ▁was ▁reduced ▁in ▁size ▁from ▁ 1 4 ▁clubs ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁to ▁ 1 2 ▁clubs ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁However ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Hem el ▁St ags ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁club ▁was ▁withdraw ing ▁from ▁the ▁league ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁reducing ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁teams ▁to ▁ 1 1 ; ▁the ▁R FL ▁indicated ▁that ▁no ▁replacement ▁team ▁is ▁to ▁be ▁sought . ▁The ▁season ▁will ▁consist ▁of ▁ 2 2 ▁r ounds ▁with ▁each ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 1 ▁teams ▁playing ▁ 2 0 ▁fi xt ures ▁against ▁each ▁other ▁home ▁and ▁away ▁and ▁two ▁by e ▁r ounds . ▁ ▁The ▁team ▁finishing ▁top ▁will ▁win ▁automatic ▁promotion ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁Championship ▁and ▁be ▁named ▁league ▁champions ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁The ▁teams ▁finishing ▁second ▁to ▁sixth ▁will ▁meet ▁in ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁play - off ▁games ▁cul min ating ▁in ▁the ▁League ▁ 1 ▁Play - Off ▁Final . ▁ ▁The ▁winner ▁of ▁this ▁match ▁will ▁also ▁be ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁Championship ▁for ▁ 2 0 2 0 . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁season ▁Cov entry ▁B ears ▁were ▁forced ▁to ▁move ▁home ▁fi xt ures ▁away ▁from ▁But ts ▁Park ▁Arena ▁due ▁to ▁work ▁being ▁undert aken ▁on ▁the ▁pitch ▁by ▁the ▁ground ▁own ers , ▁Cov entry ▁R .