FA STATEMENT

[Southport - TOWNER]

LIFTED FROM THR ISTHMIAN MSG BOARD

 

 

It doesn't say a great deal but suggests normal relegation from Ryman Divs 1 N and S and Doc Martens East and West will still apply. This seems to follow a premature comment from a Doc Martens official reassuring clubs at the bottom of the DML that they were safe from relegation.

 

TheFA.com can today confirm the following statement, with regard to the FA National League System restructuring, and in particular, the promotion and relegation of clubs from Level 3 Leagues.

 

"At the beginning of season 2003/04, The FA and the Alliance [representatives of the Ryman, Dr Martens and UniBond leagues] notified clubs at Level 1[the Nationwide Conference] and Level 2 [Ryman, Dr Martens and UniBond leagues] of the current FA National League System, that they had one full season to prepare for restructuring, and were informed of the new criteria, complete with a timetable of key dates.

 

Level 3 leagues also agreed to support the new structure of the National League System, on the basis that normal promotion and relegation would apply, and in addition, there would be the possibility of elevating a further fifteen clubs from these Level 3 leagues.

 

Following a series of recent meetings between the Level 3 leagues and the Alliance leagues, it transpired that the views regarding promotion and relegation of clubs from Level 3 differed.

 

At a meeting of The FA Board on Tuesday 27th April, The FA Board supported the original decision of The FA Council [made on June 21st 2003] that normal promotion and relegation for Level 3 leagues would apply, and that a further 15 clubs would also be considered for the new Step 4 of The FA National League System for season 2004/05.

 

There will now be a meeting on Sunday 9th May at which clubs at the new Steps 2 to 4 of the FA National League System will be allocated to leagues, for the commencement of season 2004/05.

 

Such allocation will be subject to ratification by The FA National League System Committee. Representatives will be present from the Alliance leagues, Level 3 leagues and The FA National League System Committee."

 

 

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[Gonzo]

So ETFC still have a (very very) remote chance of promotion. More likely though is the propsect of a couple of Enfield Derbies next season!

[MK James]

 

Bring it on!

[Gonzo]

I'm sure the lads have been reading the results pages and will be quaking in their boots!

[PORTENCROSS]

I am most grateful to Southport for quoting the F A statement to forum users. It is, indeed, a great victory for common sense and is a result of the appeal we ( "we" are the 14 present level 3 leagues - not Ryman 2 ) put in at Soho Square last Wednesday on the issue that I informed all our clubs about, of being "stitched-up" on promotion and relegation. It now gives all those folk, mainly who have finished up in second or third place an opportunity, albeit small, of gaining promotion by being in the "pot" as everyone else thought would happen at the beginning of this season. Indeed, someone should also be relegated. Now, we have always made it clear that we will honour the original agreement of allowing our third place club promotion if they have gone through the proper application channels. The only ESL club to fulfil the Promotion criteria is Enfield Town who must finish in 1, 2 or 3 position, nothing else counts.

The issue of clubs being "invited" to the Ryman Div 2 is totally different and is a tactic that this league finds completely out of order and not in the spirit of the game or rules and is being contested vigourously . We need and want every club in this league to stay or, if they don't want to, then be swapped for someone eles - that has always been the rules and should not have been changed unless given prior notice. No such notice has ever been given. We enjoy the presence of EVERY club in this League !

[Gonzo]

I know you mean no harm to ETFC, but it sounds from your post that if they are to finish 4th (as seems likely) then there is no possibility of promotion - fair enough. However, the suggestion is that you would fight tooth and nail to prevent ETFC going to Ryman 2 (should they wish to take up their invitation) unless another club took their place in the ESL. A 'club swap' seems unlikely to say the least. Let's just hope the club and the league can sort this mess out as the relationship has been mutually beneficial so far.

[PORTENCROSS]

Hi Gonzo, fair enough comment. I might be the Chairman but also a die-hard ESL man so will fight tooth and nail for justice, and I am sorry to harp on about it but "inviting" clubs with the sanction of the F A has been totally out of order as everyone well knows..... nevertheless, I will always respect the majority view of my member clubs and if they are OK about two clubs ( I understand that no more than two can be "invited" ) to move in such circumstances then so be it ... the ESL is too good a league to suffer irreparable damage from such actions.. even so, it would be foolish of me to deny that we would still like to retain the status quo , oh and by the way, I don't believe in the comment "....swap seems unlikely to say the least " - Thanks to today's F A statement, May 9th sees a whole new ball game on relegation and don't ever forget that you came along in 2001 after we thought the constitution was sorted and London APSA, the same last year. Both of you have been exemplary members of this league and have stamped your own qualities on the history of this League..... No, I never give up looking for new clubs until the jovial lady sings !

[Southport - TOWNER]

well it is out of the hands of the supporters, as most things are in the beautiful game.

 

but I had a call from a fellow towner tonight who says that if we are forced to stay in the ESL, he will stop spending money at away games.

 

already seems that the bad feeling is simmering.

 

persoanlly, I reckon we have to wait until May, probably even June for an answer.

 

 

[lovely stuff]

I've a feeling that some fans would be prepared to boycott away games alltogether next year....I hope it won't come to that.

[theabbeyabbott]

I hope that too, that's not fair on your club for starters and as Lge Chairman says everyone is welcome in this league despite what some earlier posts said, and some of the banter that goes on. This league is a great breeding ground for both clubs and players. Rob E carry on the good work, you have nothing to prove.

[Southport - TOWNER]

don't get me wrong ESL and ETFC have been good for each other; but with the whole of non league football going through restructing, maybe now is the time for ETFC to take the next step, into a larger regional organisation.

 

dunno

 

It's up to the FA, Ryman, ETFC board and ESL

 

us humble supporters we just pay our cash and by 3 out of 4 organisations get ignored.

 

 

[andyetfc]

It's great to speculate! However, I think we should just take a back seat and wait and see what the FA come up with. No use worrying ourselves.

 

As I have pointed out before, if it is to be Ryman 1, Ryman 2 or ESL, then so be it. It's been a great three years with more to come. We have not won the league, as so many people have pointed it out to us, so we do not deserve to be promoted to Ryman 1 as champions. However, if we are invited into Ryman 1 or Ryman 2, then we should be proud that people are taking notice of an ambitious club. Don't forget, we cannot be held responsible if the Ryman League would like us to join them. It's their decision, not our's. All clubs are ambitious in their own way and so are we and if that means taking up a position in the Ryman league and developing further links within the footballing world, but outside of the ESL, then so be it.

 

What will be will be! At this rate I shall start singing.

 

No doubt I will get some form of response from a certain person!

[Gonzo]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
but I had a call from a fellow towner tonight who says that if we are forced to stay in the ESL, he will stop spending money at away games.

I do feel the same way and would certainly be less inclined to make the trips to away matches.

So, it comes down to the other ESL clubs allowing ETFC to leave. Can anyone honestly see them doing this?!

At least we know the League's position. We'll just have to wait and see what th FA, Ryman League & ETFC board do.

You're right though Southport, there is potential for bad feeling.

The ESL was somewhere for ETFC to cut their teeth. Not somewhere to languish. Sure, we can blame the players & management this season but not when it's the ESL POTENTIALLY 'holding us back'.

[Colin, Germany]

If Enfield Town are not playing Ryman football next season, the main reason will be the patch of relative bad form at the beginning of the season. Surely that's not a reason for bad feeling against the other clubs in the ESL.

 

The ground is now ready, and, when we look back in a few years' time, I don't think it will look all that important whether Ryman football started in 2004 or 2005.

[Gonzo]

People have already spoken about it being easier to attract better players and sponsorship in Ryman 2. How about if ETFC remain in the ESL next year and for some reason don't gain promotion again. Our only guarantee of Ryman football is if we accept our invitation and are permitted to leave the ESL.

 

Our support and resources are not going to grow and the quality of our football will not improve if we stay in the ESL.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Ironic

a fair number of ESL clubs don't like us; but I do agree with Gonzo's scepticism as to whether they would vote to let us go.

 

as for Andy singing, I hope ou are at work and not home, as my dog has just settled down I don't want him howling as well!!

 

[The Invisible Man]

In my humble opinion it would be churlish, childish, ungrateful, disloyal and unsporting to "take our bat and ball home" and boycott away games, reduce spending or whatever.

 

Surely we need to look at future arrangements for the sturcture of leagues at this level and promotion and relegation issues. Is Ryman 2 going to continue in existence for ever? How long will promotion from it continue to be automatic? Is the quality of the football, pitches and grounds really that much better than the ESL? Will firms really queue up to sponsor us because we play in a league with "Ryman" in its name?

 

Conversely, if we deecline the invitatin to join Ryman 2, will it be held against us if we win the ESL in future and apply for promotion?

 

I also disagree with Andy that "whatever will be will be" and that there is no point in worrying about it. This is a supporter's owned club, and the supporters should be consulted on such an important issue as switching leagues. If a referendum's good enough for Blair.......

[Gonzo]

Childish? - Yep, but it's as you've outlined and we have to put our own best interests first.

 

ETFC are in a situation where we have to react to what happens around us. However, if the ESL were to vote not to allow us to jump over to Ryman 2 then they are clearly putting their own best interests ahead of ours - now who's being selfish?

 

Of course we have to weigh up all the pros and cons and most supporters have more questions than answers at this stage.

 

There seems to a general feeling from the management to the supporters that we will be playing at different grounds next season.

 

Should we have a vote? - I guess we'll just have to wait till the second week of May.

[lovely stuff]

Invisable, I think you're the only ETFC supporter that is talking about staying in the ESL.

 

The ONLY benifit i could see,is that it might be easier to win the ESL next season (to gain promotion) than come top two of the Ryman2.

 

1.I think promotion to Ryman 1 is more likely to remain automatic from Ryman 2 than it is from the feeder leagues in the coming seasons.

 

2.After three seasons in the ESL, we need a new challenge, we're missing Ryman football....(And i never thought i'd hear myself say that).

 

3. I recon pitches ,grounds,attendences will be slightly better than the ESL.....I don't know about quality of football.

 

4. The Ryman league (even Div 2) is more high profile than the ESL or other feeders.

 

I'm still praying for Div 1 football next year....however remote.

[Gonzo]

Attendances would have to be larger in Ryman 2 - just think about (at least) 2 'Enfield Derbies' a season. Now those matches would certainly raise the profile of whichever League they took place in.

 

Alternatively, how about ETFC take EFC's place in the Ryman and EFC join the ESL?