Division 3 consists of 144 clubs, divided into 12 groups of 12 teams, each representing a geographical area. The season runs from April to October, with each club playing the others in its group twice—once at home and once away—for a total of 22 matches. The top team in each group is promoted to
Division 2 , replacing the two lowest-placed teams from each Division 2 league. The second-placed teams in Division 3 compete in promotion/relegation play-offs against the third-lowest teams in Division 2. Normally, at the end of each season the three lowest placed teams of each group are relegated to the regional
Division 4 and thirty-six teams from the regional Division 4 leagues are promoted in their place while the fourth lowest placed teams in the Division 3 leagues plays promotion/relegation play-offs against teams in Division 4. There were a series of relegation/promotion play-offs at the end of the 2010 season. == Administration ==