The Conference loves us all?

[pabird]

According to todays press the Conference have announced that the Conference will expand to match the number of sides that apply

Now obviously they will "be careful" with applicants

But

I make that the probability of circa the top seven clubs from each feeder league wiping out Dr Martins, Rymans etc in a single action

 

The new look Conference stretching possibly to Prem, Div 1, and maybe Div2.

You will not be surprised to learn that the Conference are taking this action for the "good of non-league football" ??

 

And when you accept that remember Father Christmas will not leave your presents if he finds you awake

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Whatever_anim.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

Canv I wonder in the fullness of time if this action means teams that are unable to sustain their status joining forces

Grays and Purfleet maybe

Billericay and Basildon for instance? (as Basilricay of course)

CIFC will no doubt continue to make historic progress

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Whatever_anim.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

 

[pabird]

PS Merry Christmas all

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Whatever_anim.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif" alt="" />

[Phil Old Boy]

Merry Christmas Pabird.

[David Holden]

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

According to todays press the Conference have announced that the Conference will expand to match the number of sides that apply

Now obviously they will "be careful" with applicants

But

I make that the probability of circa the top seven clubs from each feeder league wiping out Dr Martins, Rymans etc in a single action

 

The new look Conference stretching possibly to Prem, Div 1, and maybe Div2.

You will not be surprised to learn that the Conference are taking this action for the "good of non-league football" ??

 

And when you accept that remember Father Christmas will not leave your presents if he finds you awake

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Whatever_anim.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

Well according to the same article, there were 42 clubs who "applied" for conference status from the three premier divisions at the start of this season, so you can perhaps assume that all of those would be interested which will leave only 26 premier clubs to carry on in the feeder leagues.

 

If all 42 do apply and are accepted, then they will form a conference 2 north and conference 2 south.

 

What the conference were very shy about was how many will go up/down at that level but did say that there would be play-offs involved. I would take that to mean that there will be only the champions of each division promoted with say the next 2/4 from each division playing off for one additional place. Not much of an incentive to go travelling halfway around the country is it?

[cangull]

I read it as promotion through play off only.

[CANV EFM]

i reckon the conf head honchos are crapping it at the thought of div three going regional and nicking the top 10 clubs or so from the conf.. they are just trying to sew up the rest of the non league clubs before they have nothing left

[FleetFanatic]

From www.kent-online.co.uk:

 

Dover heading for Conference place?

 

DOVER Athletic could be playing in the Nationwide Conference next season even if they don’t win the Dr Martens League Premier Division this time around.

 

Whites have accepted an invitation to apply for a place in an expanded Conference next season.

 

Conference chief executive John Moules has written to each of the 69 clubs which form the premier divisions of the Dr Martens, Ryman and UniBond Leagues urging them to break away and join an extended Conference, which will start next season if the plan succeeds.

 

If up to 22 clubs apply they would form a new league called Conference Two. If up to 44 apply they would form two geographically-based leagues: Conference North and Conference South.

 

Dover have decided that they would like to be involved if the second option becomes a reality - but not the first. Club chairman Mick Kemp said: “We are going to vote for the two new leagues, north and south.

 

“We are against the idea of just having a Conference Division 2 because we think the travelling and other costs involved would be too much for most other clubs who are now in the feeder leagues.”

 

Clubs have until January 16 to reply to Mr Moules’s letter and Mr Kemp said that in some ways Dover were being “rushed into making a decision”.

 

He added: “We feel that we can’t sit back and not do anything, because if the Conference does expand then I can see the premier divisions in the feeder leagues disappearing next season and we could end up in the Dr Martens Eastern Division."

 

MICK KEMP: "We are going to vote for two new leagues, north and south"

 

Report from Dover Mercury

[pabird]

The conference have made a press release that ignores the FA block on the expansion move until next year, as below

 

The Nationwide Conference announced today that their recent invitation to clubs in the premier divisions of the three feeder leagues to join a new conference format has been oversubscribed with 75% of the 69 clubs eligible applying to be part of the new structure

 

Conference cheif executive , John Moules said "This is an overwhelming declaration by the clubs themselves that they regard change as necessary-and they want it now! They no longer want to be embroiled in ant further delays, surveys, or politics football is about clubs and the clubs have on this occasion spoken, if, we live in a democracy then the simple rule change to expand the conference to 66 clubs should be implemented immediately to be in place for season 2003/2004

 

He continued "our preference is to have two semi-national divisions feeding into the current nationwide conference of 22 member clubs We propose to continue to operate promotion of three clubs from the feeder leagues premier divisions and introduce play-offs between the three conference divisions while increasing promotion with play-offs with the three feederleagues and the two semi-national divisions. The net effect on all of the proposed changes will benefit each level of football with increased promotion and the excitement of play-offs. The net affect of the new structure will provide excitement throughout a playing season and increase attendances. It also provides for the football foundation to channel grants to promoted clubs, as opposed to the current system of funding all those in contention for promotion as the entry criteria for the two semi-national divisions will be set to accommodate this and will be a lower requirement than the current conference criteria.

 

"We have already commenced discussions on new sponsorship and we are progressing the task of selecting the 44 clubs who would form the two new semi-national divisions, This will be a lengthy process and those who have not applied will need to meet the deadline this monthwith their completed application forms to be included in the selection process

 

End of statement, I have attempted to replicate every word correctly but difficult with some of the BS

We have a very interesting few months ahead