Macclesfield Relegated

That's something that could be easily solved given the amount of money in the game. Perhaps the EFL could set up a stadium improvement fund to assist the smaller clubs, funded by the fines imposed on the larger clubs?

 

What is it about north-west clubs which makes them serial overspenders? Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Macclesfield.

 

They were / are clubs that were all trying to sustain themselves at a higher level than was possible. Things may change to some extent if salary caps are brought in across the EFL, with there being more of a level playing field. I guess it is a word of warning to all clubs & justifies our approach as a club to balance the books as much as possible.

 

Re-election was a very unfair way of deciding if a team was relegated or stayed in the league. Football is a meritocracy where promotion and relegation is decided by your final position in the league. The fourth division (league 2) shouldn't be different in that respect.

 

I agree. Re-election created an 'Old Boys Club' mentality within the Football League. Perennial strugglers (eg. Hartlepool & Workington) were continually being re-elected, at the expense of well run non league clubs at the time.
The fact that Macclesfield appear to have been a poorly run club since their promotion to the Football League does not justify tarring all non league clubs with the same brush.

 

reading the Maclesfield Fans Forum - not too worried about being relegated - they are hoping for a Parachute Payment when they're relegated as that is the only way they can avoid being wound up.

 

I'm not a fan of 2 up, 2 down though. I think league status is something which shouldn't be that easily lost or earned. A play-off between the National League Champions and the bottom club in League 2 would be my preference.

 

All three cases were appeals

 

You could apply that argument to any league though. I don't see why a club that finishes bottom of the fourth division should get a second chance of retaining their league status at the expense of a conference side who have finished top of their league on merit.

 

I think the current system is about right. It lets struggling clubs drop down & regroup, as many do eventually & gives others a chance at the big time, if you can call L2 that. Certainly wouldn't want a 3 up 3 down, as agree you need to give clubs some hope of stability & make sure only the best go up.

 

It should be 3 up and 3 down. The national league is a professional league full of well run clubs, many ex league. It’s not full of plumbers or postmen as match of the day would have people believe.

 

You think the EFL should be expanded to five divisions then.

 

The problem is the drop off in income that can ruin big clubs on a bad run.

 

If you are a big club in the fourth flight, you are already up scheisse creek. If you get relegated from that you are in real trouble. Stockport have started to climb back. I'd consider them a big club at that level.

 

sounds a bit like the premier league excuses that mate!

 

A massive yes!! I’d even go a bit further and here’s how I’d do it, regionalize league Two and the current national league. It’s bonkers Carlisle traveling to torquay or Weymouth going to hartlepool on a Tuesday night. An overnight stay costs about £6000, we need to do things better and help the clubs as best we can. If this happened 2 up from the feeder national leagues would work ok, then 2 each from leagues 2. That protects the bigger clubs as someone mentioned but makes promotion achievable.

Premier league
Championship
League one
League 2 north
League 2 south
——————————
Feeder leagues of
National league north
National league south

 

When play offs were introduced. The play offs included the team from the higher division took part. Much preferred it.
Eg Charlton would have been involved. + the 3rd/4th/5th from league 1.

 

What kind of hotel are they staying in to cost £6K a night?

 

20 players, 8 to 10 staff, hotel, transport, food and drink. 6k was quoted as average costs. it won’t be far off.