NL board to decide early next week

[Chinawhite1000]

Christ that looks dreadful! Try this https://twitter.com/notts_stats/stat...759237120?s=21

cup games are irrelevant as they are largely against teams from other leagues and some teams (Barrow for example) mostly played their reserve teams in the Trophy.

The same for just league games would obviously look different - and i'm sure would show (or imply) that Chorley would never have stayed up whatever - but anything else was less certain.

As i put earlier in the thread though - and before i realised it was you that did them - you do do some impressive work there.

[Elite_Pie]

I did wonder if it mean was I bored or busy? but didn't understand the relevance.... and then when he put he could go off me I wondered if he'd been trying to chat me up, lol....

Didn't take you long to work him out!

Back on topic, I'm intrigued by the possibility of this 'elected to the Football League' thing. I am old enough to remember the days of re-election (particularly relevant to Barrow) where the bottom four in League 2 (then Division Four) had to apply to retain League membership at the AGM of Football League chairmen, who voted either to retain the clubs or elect a new member from non league. I don't recall us ever facing re-election, but at my time we had Jack Dunnett as our chairman who as an MP was very well connected, so even without our history and fanbase we were pretty sure to be safe. If the worst happens and some clubs do go bust, we must have a very good chance of winning lots of votes.

[Chinawhite1000]

Ultimately i think the NL board will issue a "holding" statement early next week along the lines of "subject to confirmation from the EFL on what happens with Division 2 we are proceeding on the basis that play offs will take place" and will then ask the clubs on a format to get to a table to get the play off positions - and that can only reasonably be PPG.
That will effectively just kick the can down the street for another week or so, by which time the EFL may have made a decision - meaning that the NL board doesn't have to...

[ncfcog]

cup games are irrelevant as they are largely against teams from other leagues and some teams (Barrow for example) mostly played their reserve teams in the Trophy.

The same for just league games would obviously look different - and i'm sure would show (or imply) that Chorley would never have stayed up whatever - but anything else was less certain.

As i put earlier in the thread though - and before i realised it was you that did them - you do do some impressive work there.

Yes the league alone would look different, but sometimes it’s interesting to see how a ‘team’ and it’s ‘squad’ have performed in all games in the season.

Its interesting that Barnet have only played 35 league games, but have played more cup games than anyone else. As for playing reserves I think there are many clubs that do that however it is still an indication of the strength of your squad overall. It might indicate for example that Barrow have a smallish squad (23?) and outside of a league match day 16 player selection there maybe isn’t as much strength in depth? Not a dig, just an observation.

[navypie]

Didn't take you long to work him out!

Back on topic, I'm intrigued by the possibility of this 'elected to the Football League' thing. I am old enough to remember the days of re-election (particularly relevant to Barrow) where the bottom four in League 2 (then Division Four) had to apply to retain League membership at the AGM of Football League chairmen, who voted either to retain the clubs or elect a new member from non league. I don't recall us ever facing re-election, but at my time we had Jack Dunnett as our chairman who as an MP was very well connected, so even without our history and fanbase we were pretty sure to be safe. If the worst happens and some clubs do go bust, we must have a very good chance of winning lots of votes.

He's gonna got me again.

[Chinawhite1000]

This is the basis on there being no legal arguments if the EFL were to invite Barrow (or any other club) to be in the EFL next season to replace Bury. from the EFL articles;-

5.3 Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association and these Regulations, The League may from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may think fit admit any Association Football club as a member or expel or accept the retirement of any member from The League provided always that no member may be expelled without the sanction of a special resolution passed at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of The League. Any casual vacancy occurring in the membership of The League may be filled by the Board.

The constitution of the EFL allows for no more than 72 clubs and for no more than 24 clubs in each league.

[Chinawhite1000]

Yes the league alone would look different, but sometimes it’s interesting to see how a ‘team’ and it’s ‘squad’ have performed in all games in the season.

Its interesting that Barnet have only played 35 league games, but have played more cup games than anyone else. As for playing reserves I think there are many clubs that do that however it is still an indication of the strength of your squad overall. It might indicate for example that Barrow have a smallish squad (23?) and outside of a league match day 16 player selection there maybe isn’t as much strength in depth? Not a dig, just an observation.

Barrow do have a smallish squad - and used several youth/reserve team players when Barnet knocked us out - I think there was 1 possibly 2 1st team squad players in the team.

[upthemaggies]

Didn't take you long to work him out!

Back on topic, I'm intrigued by the possibility of this 'elected to the Football League' thing. I am old enough to remember the days of re-election (particularly relevant to Barrow) where the bottom four in League 2 (then Division Four) had to apply to retain League membership at the AGM of Football League chairmen, who voted either to retain the clubs or elect a new member from non league. I don't recall us ever facing re-election, but at my time we had Jack Dunnett as our chairman who as an MP was very well connected, so even without our history and fanbase we were pretty sure to be safe. If the worst happens and some clubs do go bust, we must have a very good chance of winning lots of votes.

Off the top of my head I think the only time we ever faced re-election was at the end of the very first season of the Football League in 1889. A lot of people probably assume re-election only came into being with the advent of Division Three North/South or Division Four but it was there from the very beginning until automatic promotion/relegation was introduced in 1986/87ish. A lot of clubs were replaced in the early days but apart from that first season we were always decent enough to comfortably avoid it until a few close calls in the 1960s.

The real injustice in 1972 was inviting Hereford in when they hadn't even won a league title in 7 years, they got in on the strength of beating Newcastle on MOTD. I'd like to see a few non-league tables from the early 70s because there must have been clubs more deserving. Of all the clubs who were invited in, post war, Hereford must have been the weakest choice. Peterborough, Oxford, Wigan and Wimbledon have all been either solid league clubs or have had notable success, Cambridge have had a couple of spells in the 2nd tier too and soldier on.

[Chinawhite1000]

Off the top of my head I think the only time we ever faced re-election was at the end of the very first season of the Football League in 1889. A lot of people probably assume re-election only came into being with the advent of Division Three North/South or Division Four but it was there from the very beginning until automatic promotion/relegation was introduced in 1986/87ish. A lot of clubs were replaced in the early days but apart from that first season we were always decent enough to comfortably avoid it until a few close calls in the 1960s.

The real injustice in 1972 was inviting Hereford in when they hadn't even won a league title in 7 years, they got in on the strength of beating Newcastle on MOTD. I'd like to see a few non-league tables from the early 70s because there must have been clubs more deserving. Of all the clubs who were invited in, post war, Hereford must have been the weakest choice. Peterborough, Oxford, Wigan and Wimbledon have all been either solid league clubs or have had notable success, Cambridge have had a couple of spells in the 2nd tier too and soldier on.

There are quite a few teams from the pre-conference and early conference days that deserved a League place at the time more than Hereford - Altrincham have got to be one of the best examples of teams that never made it - but in the North - Macclesfield, Boston and Wigan won the Northern Premier League 8 times in 10 years between them between 1968/69 and 1977/78. Ironically Wigan who were voted in after the 1977/78 season only finished 2nd to Boston that season - but Boston's ground wasn't up to standards at the time.
Down South Enfield were another team who probably should have mage it to the league.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

My view:

1. If the EFL decide they only have one place available. then its up to them and all non league clubs have to accept this.

2. The EFL should decide, in collaboration with NL the fairest method to choose a team. On points per game, choose Barrow. BUT if they decide to expunge the whole season and invite a team. Then it should be Notts County as the last team to get relegated. Our 150 odd seasons should Trump a good run of games by Barrow.

3. My own preference, would be a simple revised play off system.


The NL decides the league position (or points per game) this system starts. eg My example is from 4th up.

Team in 4th plays team in 3rd. (Team in 3rd home advantage)
Winner 4th V 3rd plays team in 2nd (Team in 2nd home advantage)
Winner 4th, 3rd V 2nd plays 1st. (Team in 1st home advantage)
Winner promoted to FL

Advantages - Gives the advantage to the teams in the highest position (they play at home and with less matches) and very few matches.

Any disadvantages?

I wanted the season to be mothballed and picked up at a later date. That’s not happening so the best outcome we could hope for to get promoted in my view is a shot at the playoffs.

However with the decision that has been made about the regular season fixtures being cancelled then there is not much time to play the playoff games if the National League want to stick to their calendar.

The national league playoff final was scheduled to be played on 10th May. That is the ultimate end date for the National League season.

So if the playoffs don’t happen before then which is pretty much a certainty as it’s only 11 days away then it’s going to be a similar situation to the end of season dilemma as to when these games get played.

If player contracts run out at the end of June then I’d guess they would have to try and play these playoff games before then? How long could these games be delayed? They would likely need to be played behind closed doors.

If they delay the playoffs then why not delay the remaining games of the regular season?

I’m guessing the buck could be passed to the EFL as to whether they will accept two teams from the National League for the 2020/21 season. Otherwise it’s pointless the National League playing the set playoffs for the teams in 2nd-7th place.

As others have said maybe the EFL will invite someone?

A lot is up in the air and the path does not look clear as to a suitable way forward yet.