Due to several non-competitive events between last and this season, the team exchange among the two highest football divisions of Poland was only partially determined by the 2008–09 league tables.

ŁKS Łódź were denied a license by the Polish FA because of financial issues.

As a consequence of their revoked license, ŁKS were put in last place of the 2008–09 Ekstraklasa standings and directly relegated to the First League.

Both teams were replaced with First League 2008–09 runners-up Zagłębie Lubin and third-placed Korona Kielce.

Because of the controversy surrounding both teams from Łódź, the Polish FA was forced to postpone the originally planned relegation/promotion play-off in June 2009[citation needed] and eventually decided to cancel it completely.