The 2015–16 Slovenian Third League began on 22 August 2015 and ended on 29 May 2016 with playoffs being played on 4 and 8 June 2016.
Competition format and rules The 2015–16 Slovenian Third League was divided into four regional groups with a total of 52 participating clubs. Three groups (i.e. North, Centre, East) were composed of 14 clubs, while the group West only had 10 clubs that were participating in the competition. The winners of the regular season in each group played a promotional two-legged play-offs to decide which two teams promoted to the Slovenian Second League. Reserve teams of the top division sides were ineligible to promote to the second division, due to the rules of the Football Association of Slovenia, which stipulated that one club's main squad and their reserve team must be at least two leagues apart in the country's football pyramid. Consequently, in case one club's main squad would get relegated from the top division to the second division their reserve team would be automatically relegated from the third division.
The number of relegated teams from each group was determined by the number of regional MNZ's from which the clubs in all four groups were a part of.
MNZ Celje (North) MNZ Maribor (North) MNZ Ptuj (North)
MNZG-Kranj (Centre) MNZ Ljubljana (Centre)
MNZ Lendava (East) MNZ Murska Sobota (East)
MNZ Koper (West) MNZ Nova Gorica (West)
This meant that three teams from 3. SNL North were relegated at the end of the season and replaced by the winners of the fourth tier competitions held separately in MNZ Celje, MNZ Maribor and MNZ Ptuj. The number of relegated teams from 3. SNL Centre and 3. SNL East was two, while only the bottom team was relegated from 3. SNL West as MNZ Koper and MNZ Nova Gorica managed a combined fourth tier competition. The number of relegated teams was also determined by the location of teams which relegated from the second division.
3. SNL Centre Clubs ClubLocationStadium2014–15 positionŽiriŽiri Polje StadiumMNZG-Kranj, 3rdBledBledBled Sports Centre8thBrinje GrosupljeGrosupljeBrinje StadiumMNZ Ljubljana, 2ndBravoLjubljanaŽAK Stadium MNZ Ljubljana, 1stIlirijaLjubljanaIlirija Sports Park2ndIvančna GoricaIvančna GoricaIvančna Gorica Stadium3rdJeseniceJesenicePodmežakla StadiumMNZG-Kranj, 2ndJezeroMedvodeOb Sori Stadium9thKolpaPodzemeljPodzemelj Sports Park10thKomendaKomendaKomenda Hipodrom12thLesceLesceNa Žagi Stadium11thRudar TrbovljeTrbovljeRudar Stadium7thSavaKranjStražišče Sports Park6thZagorjeZagorje ob SaviZagorje City Stadium4th
League table
3. SNL East Clubs ClubLocationStadium2014–15 positionBakovciBakovciŠRC Bakovci12thBeltinciBeltinciBeltinci Sports Park2ndČardaMartjanciŠRC Martjanci10thČrenšovciČrenšovciČrenšovci Sports Park11thGradGradIgrišče Pod gradom4thKriževciKriževciKriževci Sports ParkMNZ Murska Sobota, 1stNafta 1903LendavaLendava Sports Park9thLjutomerLjutomerLjutomer Sports Park5thMuraMurska SobotaFazanerija3rdOdranciOdranciŠRC Odranci1stRakičanRakičanGrajski Park Stadium8thTromejnikKuzmaKuzma Football Stadium6thTurniščeTurniščeTurnišče Stadium7thPolanaVelika PolanaPC PoljanaMNZ Lendava, 2nd
League table
3. SNL North Clubs ClubLocationStadium2014–15 positionBrežice 1919BrežiceBrežice StadiumMNZ Celje, 1stDobrovceMiklavžDobrovce Sports ParkMNZ Maribor, 1stDravinjaSlovenske KonjiceDobrava Stadium2. SNL, 9thDravogradDravogradDravograd Sports Centre4thFužinarRavne na KoroškemCity Stadium6thLenartLenartŠRC Polena10thMaribor BMariborTabor Sports Park1stMons ClaudiusRogatecRogatec Sports Centre8thPodvinciPodvinciPodvinci Stadium3rdRadljeRadlje ob DraviRadlje ob Dravi Stadium9thŠampionCeljeOlimp7thŠmarjeŠmarje pri JelšahSports Park5thŠmartno 1928Šmartno ob PakiŠmartno Stadium2. SNL, 10thVidemVidem pri PtujuVidem Sports ParkMNZ Ptuj, 1st
League table
3. SNL West Clubs ClubLocationStadium2014–15 positionAdriaMirenIgrišče Pri Štantu8thAjdovščina ŠkouAjdovščinaAjdovščina Stadium1stBiljeBiljeStadion V dolinci4thBrdaDobrovoVipolže Stadium3rdCerknicaCerknicaKoleno Stadium9thIlirska BistricaIlirska BistricaTrnovo Sports Centre7thIzolaIzolaIzola City Stadium2ndJadranDekaniDekani Sports Park5thTaborSežanaRajko Štolfa Stadium6thVipavaVipavaOb Beli StadiumMNZ Nova Gorica, 1st
League table
Play-offs A two-legged play-offs between the group winners for promotion to the Slovenian Second League.
First leg
Second leg
Brda and Brežice 1919 were promoted to the Slovenian Second League.
See also 2015–16 Slovenian PrvaLiga 2015–16 Slovenian Second League
References
External links Football Association of Slovenia MNZG-Kranj MNZ Murska Sobota MNZ Maribor MNZ Nova Gorica