Regional BSP

[AustrianAndyGull]

With the sad news of the financial difficulties at Darlington AND at many other clubs in the BSP, maybe the league should be regionalised to cut travelling costs and other expenses to help clubs out. Each league would work on a basis like the SPL where there are about 10 -12 teams in northern and southern sections and they play each other more then twice a season. The winners of each section gaining promotion to the football league. I was looking at the fixtures for the FA Trophy at the weekend and you had teams like York going to Salisbury, a fair trek for a meaningless game. Yep i know we got to the FA Trophy final but at the end of the day its a nothing tournament. I'm sure York would benefit financially facing teams like Grimsby, Lincoln, Mansfield on a regular basis rather than Hayes & Yeading and other small southern teams and vice versa. What do you guys think?

[tufcbrett]

I cant see it happening inless they changed the promotion/relegation spots to and from league 2 to three places. With the champions from each half going up and then 2nd and 3rd from each half getting a playoff spot. Some clubs may feel they will get a less chance of getting promoted if it was just the champions from each league.

Its a good idea but dont think it would happend. You would have to maybe merge the BSP regions with the conference north or south. This would then make a knock on effect down the leagues. With strict rules on grounds size ect for each league, it could cripple more clubs than you would save.

I know theres not much money in the non leagues, but there are clubs doing just as bad in the football league. Good idea but i think all the changes would make it worse.

The only way i could see it getting "fixed" would be if the football league took over the BSP and made it League 3. Grab more money from the premier league and make the parachute payments go down to League 3. Thats why most clubs like Darlo are getting crippled is because the extra money they got from the football league goes after one season of the non league. So losing that money is hard. We was lucky we only had one year without, else we would have been stuck with many others who struggle without it.

[Trojan 67]

I thought the initial idea of the "Fifth Division" was to get top flight non league teams prepared for the Football League.

Those that can't hack Blue Square North/South, won't be able to hack Blue Square Premier and therefore won't be able to handle the Football League.

Recent history seems to prove that Football League clubs going in the opposite direction have problems of a different nature.

[happytorq]

What happens if, say, Plymouth, Swindon and Bristol Rovers all get relegated from League 2? (hehehe)

if you're having a team come up from the 'northern' BSP, you'd have to have one of those go into that division to keep things level. Tricky.

[Glostergull]

What happens if, say, Plymouth, Swindon and Bristol Rovers all get relegated from League 2? (hehehe)

if you're having a team come up from the 'northern' BSP, you'd have to have one of those go into that division to keep things level. Tricky.

No. In fact they wouldn't. This has happened before and if this scenario came about, then one of the teams already in the league would be asked to move into either the northern or southern division according to what division they were in before. Gloucester City were asked to move from the Southern conference to Conference north some time ago to make up for the imbalance.

[Jeff]

And Bishops Stortford too (where I am as I type this) - made to go in Conference North this season due to an imbalance of numbers. I'm watching them play Workington - a ridiculous match-up in a regionalised division. But with Northern sides like Darlo and Kettering facing extinction, it's got a situation that is going to change any time soon.

Regionalising seems like a good idea, but you always end up creating problems that werent there.

[wodger of awabia]

And Bishops Stortford too (where I am as I type this) - made to go in Conference North this season due to an imbalance of numbers. I'm watching them play Workington - a ridiculous match-up in a regionalised division. But with Northern sides like Darlo and Kettering facing extinction, it's got a situation that is going to change any time soon.

Regionalising seems like a good idea, but you always end up creating problems that werent there.

Well someone has to type there haven't they?
Do the league play additional travel/accommodation expences if they displace a team?

[Glostergull]

Well someone has to type there haven't they?
Do the league play additional travel/accommodation expences if they displace a team?

Not a hope in hell.
One interesting point though. Gloucester City, Having been moved from Blue Square South To The Northern league said later it was good for them as the competition was better.