After missing out on promotion in the playoffs, it was widely expected that the Millers would remain in the Midlands division given the geography of the teams relegated from step 3 and so it has turned out.

Anstey and Warwick have left the division through promotion and Rugby Town, Coventry Sphinx and St Neots were all relegated to step 5, with fourth-bottom Bourne Town being granted a reprieve.

Lichfield City have also been transferred out of the division into the NPL West.

The six new teams are Barwell and St Ives Town (both relegated from step 3) and Nuneaton Town, Coventry Utd, Boston Town and Grantham Town, all promoted from step 5.

Grantham are of course familiar foes and last shared a division with Carlton in 2023-24 when both teams were in the NPL East.

Carlton completed a league double over Barwell in the NPL First Division South in 2010-11. Barwell won the league that year and have remained at step 3 ever since until their relegation. The Canaries have beaten the Millers three times in cup competitions since those league encounters.

Carlton's only meeting with St Ives was an FA Trophy defeat in 2016-17.

The Millers have met Nuneaton Town on three occasions, all in cup competitions. Boro beat Carlton in the FA Cup in 2009-10 in a replay at Stoke Lane after the sides had drawn in Warwickshire. The Millers returned the favour in the same competition in 2023-24 at Liberty Way and then went back there a few weeks later only to suffer a last minute defeat in the FA Trophy.

Carlton's only previous meeting with Boston Town was an FA Cup defeat in 2017-18. The Millers have never played Coventry Utd.

The allocations are subject to the usual appeals and will be confirmed at the NPL AGM at the end of June. Fixtures are due in mid-July and the season starts in August.