Herbert calls for change in rules over promotion
● RUNCORN TOWN boss Chris Herbert has proposed a rule change to the Hallmark Security League Premier Division with only one team being promoted this season.
Town were 14 points behind league leaders City of Liverpool ahead of yesterday’s matches, and have lost seven of their last 11 games.
“I’ve got to take a bit of the blow from that,” Herbert said of the blip.
“It reminds me of the spell of form we had last winter. I put the pressure on the lads and City of Liverpool are top of the league and that’s who we have to catch.
“I mention City of Liverpool a lot and that’s because they’re top and that’s our aim of who to get above and at the moment we’re not.”
Runcorn Linnets and Widnes FC were both promoted from the Hallmark Security League Premier Division last term as the Evo-Stik League split into East and West zones.
“I think it’s known as the hardest league to get out of in English football,” Herbert said of the HSL.
“With only one team promoted it’s very difficult. Last year a few teams threw a bit of extra money at it and they managed to get some decent results. Everyone was going at it and that’s how the league should be. This is a very strong league. The top four or five are very strong and I think everybody knows that.
“The proof is in the pudding when you look at the league above and the top three sides are the last three teams to get promoted.
“Whether it’s a playoff or a team that comes next-to-bottom in the league above, they need to do something just to keep the interest going in that mid-table section and just give them something to aim for. Maybe in the future that’s something they can look at.”
Following yesterday’s home game with Whitchurch Alport, Town are on their travels this Saturday when they go to West Didsbury & Chorlton. The game at The Recreation Ground has a 3pm kick-off time. Runcorn are without a midweek match next week.