DRG Stapleton and Chipping Sodbury Town are breathing big sighs of relief after winning relegation reprieves.

The teams were staring the drop full in the face after finishing the 2008-09 season in the Gloucestershire County League's basement. But a decision by the league management committee to increase the number of member clubs from 17 to 18 from the start of the coming campaign means both have been granted a stay of execution.

Champions Slimbridge's promotion to the Hellenic League has opened the door for Brimscombe & Thrupp and Kingswood, who finished runners-up and in third spot respectively in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, to join the County League.