Restructuring happening

[BFR]

From FA website

 

The Arbitration Tribunal which heard the Isthmian League's challenge to the restructuring of the National League System today announced that it has unanimously dismissed their claims.

 

The Tribunal was made up of three very senior legal figures, including former senior law lord Lord Browne-Wilkinson.

 

"The FA is of course pleased that our decision and processes have been upheld by the Tribunal. However, the most important point is that we, together with the Alliance partners, can now look to the future and get on with the vital reorganisation of football at this level", Nic Coward, The FA's Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs told us.

 

The FA believes the new system will raise standards, create more excitement through play-offs, and deliver more consistent rules, regulations and ground grading requirements.

 

A key principle has been to ensure that the National League System will be fair and equitable for clubs irrespective of their geographic position in the country. Uppermost in The FA's decision-making and consultation throughout this process was that change should not take place for change’s sake, but only if it would bring long-term benefits for the game.

 

At a meeting in May 2003 the Football Conference and the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues’ 'Alliance' agreed to recommend to the National League System Committee a new structure and a timetable to achieve it. This proposal includes the following key features:-

 

- 22 clubs per league

- Play-offs at each step down to step 4

- Better linkages throughout the league structure

- A semi-national step between the Conference and step 3

- Remove leagues within a league

- Deliver more consistent rules, regulations, ground grading and promotion/relegation through play-offs

 

This structure was considered by the National League System Committee at their meeting on 9th May 2003 and approved by The FA Council at its Summer Meeting on 21st June 2003. It will now be implemented with effect from the start of season 2004-05.

 

 

[Radders]

Personally, as I said to a number of people last night, I am happy about the restructuring as at least it makes the end of season exciting. As Chris S pointed out, my opinion maybe different if we don't make the top 6, but I think that as it has been proposed throughout the season it is only right that it goes ahead.

[Guest]

it would be good if you go up, as we might play each other again next season. hope you beat dulwich tomorrow and that hampton beat lewes and we can beat Epsom!

 

Come on you Royals!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Barry Scott]

i'm sure you can beat epsom

[Martin]

But then they were sure they could beat Ashford. LOL.

[Barry Scott]

ah yeah but they took SO many fans to ashford. no thats a bit below the belt, but without a shadow of a doubt epsom are possibly the worst team ive seen at this level. pick any 11 eight years olds and they could beat epsom

[Martin]

But not windsor 8 year olds. 1-1.

[GarySTFC]

And that is with Carroll playing as well. That's a very poor result for them as they could, and should, have put further distance between themselves and Lewes who drew with Hampton.