Time for an extra NL promotion place?

[SwalePie]

A good article from iNews today. Thoughts?

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/extra-promotion-place-national-league-efl-1398708

[sidders]

A good article from iNews today. Thoughts?

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/extra-promotion-place-national-league-efl-1398708

Which of us would argue with that, given our position?

[Frigiliana Pie 1]

I’m intrigued by the phrase “foisted upon them for the good of the game “. I’d be interested to know what the writer had in mind when he wrote that, because I can’t see any way it’s going to happen.

[upthemaggies]

Prior to relegation, we'd have said no. Sod's law says they will increase the numbers the season after we finally go up, with the additional risk of dropping straight back down again.

Would the EFL ever agree to it? They agreed to increasing from 1 to 2, so it's not out of the question.

[Chicken Balti Pie]

I don't think the EFL will have much choice soon. I believe that the government are demanding reform of the leagues with better integration between the national league and EFL if they want further funding

[nw6pie]

The question is whether the National League is experiencing a unique temporary situation due to Wrexham, Stockport and Chesterfield’s sudden wealth, and our fall from grace, or whether we have surreptitiously helped create Division Five.

The National League’s case isn’t helped by the likes of Dover and King’s Lynn, but I suppose every league has a few small teams punching above their weight (after all, it was us once in a far higher league).

It does seem odd these days that four teams are promoted from League 2/relegated from League 1. Tough pill for League 2 clubs to swallow, but it makes sense for all leagues to have a standardised 3 up/3 down system.

[Elite_Pie]

I think it's time for 3, or maybe even 4 promotion places from the National League. I honestly think the top 6 in the NL would be better than the bottom 6 in League 2, but just two promotions and relegations have caused something of a bottleneck. While I admire clubs that perform above what might be considered their 'natural level', I think the EFL would be stronger with the likes of Notts, Chesterfield, Wrexham and Stockport replacing some of the clubs in League 2 who struggle to get 2,000 for a home game. I think the NL should now be considered a definite Division 5, and should be treated accordingly.

[Notts78]

I think it's time for 3, or maybe even 4 promotion places from the National League. I honestly think the top 6 in the NL would be better than the bottom 6 in League 2, but just two promotions and relegations have caused something of a bottleneck. While I admire clubs that perform above what might be considered their 'natural level', I think the EFL would be stronger with the likes of Notts, Chesterfield, Wrexham and Stockport replacing some of the clubs in League 2 who struggle to get 2,000 for a home game. I think the NL should now be considered a definite Division 5, and should be treated accordingly.

Does that mean we can stop abusing teams who are considered to be mere pub teams? Not aimed at you, the general NCM public.

[bule1]

Does that mean we can stop abusing teams who are considered to be mere pub teams? Not aimed at you, the general NCM public.

At the end of the day all teams are where they are due to their performances. It is not their fault if a small team is in the same league as us because of our previous owners incompetence.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

If this question had been asked before we had been relegated I'd probably have said leave it as it is. However since we have been relegated the standard and quality and entertainment is much better than what I expected and some games have been as good as league two or league one games.

If it were to become a division 5 or league 3 then I think it should become a full-time league and entry into it be on condition of becoming full time. As I understand there are a couple of clubs in it at are not full time Dover and Maidenhead?

Games are generally good and competitive and it's not the graveyard that I thought it would be after we were relegated. If anything it's almost a place for clubs like ours and Stockport to regroup and rebuild from the bottom upwards before pushing on.

There is clearly a bottleneck and there are some well supported teams at this level including ourselves, Wrexham, Stockport, Grimsby, Southend and Cheaterfurlough who all get average attendances over 5,000. It does drop off a cliff to 2,700 downwards.

Whilst EFL history and the size of a clubs support base is not a ticket to jump the queue back to the football league the six clubs including us have enhanced it considerably so it's a reasonable question to ask is there merit in having 3 up and 3 down.