Promotion

[I.C.@G&NFC]

I'm surprised no one's picked up on the NLP's story on the possible changes to Div. 3 for next season.

 

It's still at the talks stage, but the possible proposal is that instead of making the Conference bigger and then regionalising it, 16 teams from next seasons Conference could be promoted and Div. 3 would be regionalised. This beggars the question, if we manage a mid-table position at the end of 2002-2003 season, as most of us believe we can. Would we also be able to get Stonebridge Road up to League standard by April 1st next year?

 

If this proposal, in one form or another does go through we could be in for a very strange season. With the exception of possibly four clubs at the top vieing for the championship place, and six teams at the bottom either trying to get into the top sixteen or save themselves from relegation. We could end up with the mid-table clubs not to worried about results.

 

The thought of Gravesend and Northfleet playing in Div. 3(South?)

is a mouthwatering prospect.

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[Alan W (GNFC)]

Cant see that it could take effect for next season - look at what happened with the Ryman League fiasco last season where many clubs ended up playing what was effectively a season of friendlies, because the league constitution didnt allow immediate change - I suspect Div 3 would be regionalised from 2004/5 if it happens at all

[Guest]

This was in the Observer on Saturday

 

http://www.observer.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,772778,00.html

 

As can be seen, Gravesend are included, but then so are Canvey, Hayes and Dover!

[David Holden]

Are but this scenerio increase the size of division 3 to 60 clubs so a further 36 clubs would have to be found. That's 22 from the conference and 14 from the three feeders.

 

I can't believe that they ignored Aldershot though.

[Ronnie]

Not quite mate.

 

They are proposing to reduce the first and seconed divisions to 20 clubs each which means that only an extra 28 clubs would be needed.

 

Mind you, thats still the whole of the Conference and the top two from the feeder leagues.

 

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[Rotten Johnny Shawcraw]

Surely this simplist thing would be to merge the Conference and Div Three into a Conference north/south? More local derbies and a lot less travelling!

[David Holden]

Nah That would involve common sense. There's no chance of that being used.

 

Having said that, I do like the idea of three regional Division 3s which would reduce the travelling even further.

[Rotten Johnny Shawcraw]

Well with a Conference north/south the top two from each could be promoted to Div Two, with the bottom four from that league coming down, the bottom three from each Conf league would be relegated to the Unibond, Ryman or DM with the top two from those leagues being promoted, it would also avoid the need for major restructuring below the Conference. No need for play offs promotion and relegation issues should be decided over the course of a season, not by an own goal or a dodgy refereeing decision.

[David Holden]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Rotten Johnny Shawcraw:</font><hr />

No need for play offs promotion and relegation issues should be decided over the course of a season, not by an own goal or a dodgy refereeing decision.

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

I'm not sure that's true, after all we were relegated from the Conference on the basis of a missed penalty. (Sorry Bobby)

 

Any system is going to have it's strengths and weaknesses, if you had 3 Division 3s then these could be fed by the Unibond, Dr Marten and Ryman Leagues which would open the pyramid up to "smaller" clubs giving them more hope of joining the football league.

 

[I.C.@G&NFC]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr>

Alan W (GNFC)

 

Cant see that it could take effect for next season - look at what happened with the Ryman League fiasco last season where many clubs ended up playing what was effectively a season of friendlies,

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

I thought so too. According to the NLP story, the majority of Div. 2 & 3 clubs are in favour of the changes. However, the one stumbling block and there always is one, is that the Div. 1 clubs also have a vote in this. The changes may not effect them directly, but they are Nationwide members too, and as yet are undecided.

 

No one likes to be stitched up, but unwittingly ITV Digital may of done non-league footbal a big favour.

 

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