SHAKE-UP BEGINS FROM THE BOTTOM
ATHIRD of the way through, in fixtures terms, and the National League has taken shape. After a patchy start, Salford City’s anticipated strength has projected them to the top and the jockeying for play-off positions is in full swing, Leyton Orient v Hartlepool yesterday illustrating the size of the clubs in the chasing pack. Next weekend, the pause button is pressed as we reach the FA Cup fourth qualifying round stage and teams go hunting for glory while the board dream of those welcome increases in the prize fund that might just fund a promotion push for the second half of the season. Early days yet, of course, and still plenty of time for somebody to put together a winning run, but as the chase hots up, we can expect the argument to be aired again: such is the standard of the National League now that it surely deserves three promotion places. Now, regular readers will know my personal preference for a Football League Two North and South, taking in 20 National League clubs, but I accept that neither league looks willing to be radical and adopt a plan that might, in my view, increase and better distribute prosperity.
Restructuring
And so the three-down, three-up system is probably the best that can be achieved for now. Of course it makes sense – to fans, if not cautious administrators – and will surely have its time, particularly given the number of big Football League clubs falling, the latest being Chesterfield, then finding out how tough the climb back is. In which case, if the National League expects backing for another club going up, it also has to be prepared to look down to give others a leg up. This season represents the first of the FA’s restructuring, with four leagues now at Step 3. It is, however, an imperfect and interim restructuring because there are seven leagues at Step 4. The aim, the FA say, is to have the ‘pure’ pyramid of 1-2-4-8-16 leagues at Steps 1 to 5, with another Step 4 league in the North, by the 2020/21 season.
Ambition
All well and good, though it is an aspiration rather than an edict. And in the meantime, it has made end-of-season play-offs complicated and controversial. Step 3 clubs for example, can win their league play-off final but still not go up. How come? Well, there are six promotion places available into National League North and South (three of each going down), from four leagues. That means the four play-off winners then competing in ‘extra’ play-off finals. Why wait two years to tidy up the top – easier – part of the system at least? There appears no reason why for next season the FA could not enforce eight promotion places from Step 3. Clearly there are enough clubs good enough; witness Taunton Town beating St Albans City 5-2 in the FA Cup in midweek. For that to happen, the National League would need to be accommodating. But then, if they expect the Football League to accommodate their ambition, they will surely show the same enlightened attitude to those below. Won’t they?