Rams eyeing FA restructure with caution
Northern section placement would mean more, not less, travelling for club
RA M S B O T TOM United have welcomed the FA’s plans for a ‘pure pyramid’ non-league football – pending where the club is placed in the new structure.
The Rams club secretary, Tony Cunningham, reckons the club could miss out on a place in a North-West division which would see less travelling and more derby matches.
Instead, he fears the Rams could find themselves placed in the Northern division, potentially meaning journeys further afield.
Following the curtailment of the 2020/21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the National League System, the FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees announced that they would consider the feasibility of undertaking the restructure at Steps 4-6.
It was originally planned to take effect from the 2020/21 season but has been delayed due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement on Monday, the FA said: “The Committees have now met to consider this matter and are recommending to FA Council that the structural changes to the number of divisions in the NLS be completed in order to address the imbalance that currently exists and achieve the ‘pure pyramid’ at Steps 1-6.
“The planned and delayed restructure comprises of one additional division at Step 4, two additional divisions at Step 5 and a reduction of divisions, from 20 to 17, at Step 6. As part of the proposals, 110 clubs would be upwardly moved within the pyramid at Steps 4-6 in order to facilitate the new divisions, protecting the integrity of the NLS whilst supporting clubs with a desire and ambition to progress, without undermining the stability of the system.
“The restructure will have a positive impact on a significant number of clubs, supporting them with reduced travel and costs and providing greater opportunities for generating income via localised fixtures.”
The FA say it’s Council will be considering the recommendations of the Committees in due course and they add Clubs and Leagues will continue to be kept updated on this process.
Rams secretary Cunningham commented: “This will finally put in place a symmetrical pyramid beginning with the National League at step one (one division), down to eight divisions at step four.
“It has long been called for and the first piece of the jigsaw saw the Southern League expanded to two divisions at step three in 2018 ( making four around the country).
“The final piece will come in for the 2021-22 season, this time the eighth step four division under the jurisdiction of the Northern Premier League.
“To meet the criteria, twenty new clubs will be required. Three each from the North West Counties, Northern League and Northern Counties East, and one from each of the other eleven step five leagues around the country.
“So this will see Ramsbottom United placed in one of three divisions as opposed to one of two in the past.
“Will this mean less travelling and more derby matches? In theory yes, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the way the clubs are to be divided, the Rams will have MORE travelling to do should we be placed in a Northern division as opposed to a more sensible North West. We will have to see.
“What does amaze me is the poorly thought out way that the FA have rebuilt the pyramid.
“Upon deciding to alter step three from three divisions to four and step four from six divisions to eight, I would have thought the creation of an entirely new competition (as was the case in 1979 when the Alliance - now National - League was created) would have been more sensible, overseeing the game in the Central area of the country, as opposed to the Southern League operating two divisions at step three, with the Isthmian League and now the Northern Premier League running with three divisions at step four.
“However, the FA in their wisdom decided to give each League at steps three and four an extra division to control instead, and we have to live with it.
“The final decisions are expected before the end of April, so we will wait to see what impact the additional division will have on the Rams.”
‘I have a sneaking suspicion the Rams will have MORE travelling to do should be we placed in a Northern division’