Next Season

[ronin]

Great idea but in reality it`s not that easy, what happens when clubs decline promotion,relocate or fold?

[Ribbit]

The same as what happens now, presumably. If a club folds/relocates then someone extra would be moved into the league/not moved out. If a club declines promotion... well, a club finishing in those positions should not be able to decline promotion.

[Sharming Paula]

At what level do you require floodlights??

Would that stop some promotion hopes too???

[TB&G]

Originally Posted By: Ribbit

I completely agree. There should be automatic promotion/relegations from all leagues. No-one should have to apply and as long as the ground is good enough (read: basic saftey) they'll be allowed in.

I did notice that EOL is level 7 opposed to the ESL at level 5. Is there a league at level 6 in Essex?

Not as far as I am aware Ribbit. I know that the ESL would dearly like to have a Div 1 to add to their existing Premier one which would operate at level 6 but until the ESL Premier gets up to full (20/21/22) club complement they cannot move forward with that.

Also any club involved in promotion opportunities from a potential ESL Div 1 to the Premier would need to have the appropriate ground grading status including floodlights which are necessary at level 5.

This partly answers Paula's question as I believe that 5 is the lowest level that requires floodlights. Although I could be wrong as I often am!

[Yellow Bungle]

Whilst in principle I agree that promotion should be automatic, it can be destabilising. This has been demonstrated several times in recent seasons particularly when the promotion was from the regional leagues to the national Conference, with all the extra costs involved - travel, overnight stays, need to pay players more to compensate from being away from work longer.

 

My view is that we need a smoother pyramid which allows a gentle transition.

[Ribbit]

I'm not convinced a national non-league league is a good idea. I think splitting it North/South is far more economical, but obviously teams would be in uproar if this were proposed.

[Yellow Bungle]

My gosh, I was being particularly coherent and analytical in my last post. Must have been sober!

[ronin]

Farnborough Town are on the verge of being excluded from Conference South and in real danger of going bust. If this happens then they could well be starting again at a lower level, i wonder if it will be the Ryman North?

[YELLOW]

Very sad if that does happen.

[ronin]

It looks doubtful they will come into the Ryman, a post on Farnborough`s forum says they will be going into the Southern League 1 South & West division.

 

Also saw a post on another forum saying that AFC Wimbledon were moving across to the Southern League Premier with Wealdstone coming into the Ryman but i doubt that is true.

[YELLOW]

I wonder whether Wimbledon think it's an easier league to win.

[Ribbit]

It makes sense for Farnborough to play in that division, but Wimbledon in the Southern Premier? This is the problem with having properly defined boundaries between the Isthmian and the Southern. Wimbledon shouldn't be able to switch leagues and neither should anyone else, unless it makes sense geographically, which that move clearly wouldn't.

[ronin]

Some more news on Farnborough , it does not look good.