Gateshead Reserves face new challenges

The totesport.com Central League have decided that future admission to the competition will be restricted to Premiership and Football League clubs while membership by Conference Premier clubs would be restricted to existing members only.

Gateshead will therefore continue to qualify for membership as long as the club don't drop below Conference Premier level.

However, if the club were to resign and subsequently seek to renew membership this would be denied unless Gateshead was back in the Football League.

Gateshead reserves will face three new clubs in next season's totesport.com League.

Leeds United, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town have been replaced by Yorkshire trio Barnsley, Bradford City and Rotherham United.

Gateshead will therefore be the only non-league club in an East Division that comprises of three Championship clubs, two from League One and two from League Two.

totesport.com East Division: 2011/12: Barnsley, Middlesbrough, Hull City, Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, Rotherham United, Gateshead.

To augment the league fixtures there will again be a League Cup based on a group format while Gateshead reserves will also defend the Durham Challenge Cup won for the first time last season.

The side will once again be managed by Paul Bryson who will also take charge of the new Gateshead U.19 side that will take part in the Football Conference Youth Alliance.

"I am looking forward to the challenges ahead," said Bryson "winning the Durham Challenge Cup last season was a great achievement and we'll face some big clubs again in the totesport.com league."

Gateshead will be the only club outside the Football League in the East Division following Grimsby and Lincoln's departure, the season getting underway in August.