At first glance the omens do not appear good for Lewes and Eastbourne Borough as they look forward to life in the Blue Square premier.
Both clubs intend to remain part-time next season and one look at last season's table highlights the size of the task facing them to avoid coming straight back down.
The majority of the division's clubs are fully professional and of the six who are, not four of them - Droylsden, Stafford Rangers, Farsley Celtic and Altrincham - filled the relegation places.
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Droyslden and Stafford were doomed months before the season came to an end and finished 18 and 17 points adrift of safety respectively as they struggled to cope with the extra demands involved in non-league's top flight.
It was the same the previous season with all four who dropped out of the division being part-time but the bare statistics do not all make miserable reading for Borough and Lewes.
Histon proved you can succeed without going full-time as they came seventh, just nine points off the play-offs, while Salisbury, who have a mixture of part and full-time players, were a creditable 12th. What should give the two Sussex clubs the most hope, though, was the fact both Histon and Salisbury came up from Blue Square south in 2007 and acquitted themselves so admirably. In fact over the last three seasons only St Albans have been relegated of the five teams to win promotion from Blue Square south.
Crawley's debut season in the premier also provides a cause for optimism - especially for Eastbourne Borough.
They remained part-time after winning promotion in 2005 and finished 12th after being in the top two up until February with a team that featured current Borough players Paul Armstrong, Neil Jenkins, Robbie Kember and Allan Tait.
In the end neither Borough or Lewes can afford to go full-time and however difficult it makes it to compete next season they are right to remain part-time.
There are plenty of examples of clubs who have ignored the financial risks and spent above their means in the pursuit of glory and have ended up paying the price.
Halifax Town have recently announced £800,000 debts while Scarborough and Canvey Island were both forced to drop out of the division due to financial problems.
Even if Borough and Lewes fail to beat the odds and stay up at least the clubs will be around to fight another day.
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