Regional leagues an option for England
SOME chairmen at English lowerleague clubs have had preliminary discussions about a radical restructuring of the divisions that would merge League Two and the National League on a regional basis and turn them into League Two North and League Two South.
The plans, which are still at a tentative stage, would create five divisions in English football’s Premier League and EFL pyramid for the first time and would boost shattered finances by swelling attendances through more local derbies in each club’s fixtures, as well as creating massive savings in travelling costs.
The lower leagues have been gripped by uncertainty about the way to exit the coronavirus crisis. League Two clubs voted on Friday to end the season now on a points-per-game basis, although its plan to scrap relegation is unlikely to be approved by the FA.
The new idea would mean no relegation from League Two this season and no promotion from the National League.
At a time when there is still uncertainty about when the lower leagues will be able to return and which clubs will survive, the plan provides a framework for a new era of sustainability.
There are already suggestions the divisions below the Premier League will be subject to a salary cap next season as English football reacts to the coronavirus crisis, to effect a reset of club’s finances and end the destructive cycle of debt that was afflicting so many clubs.
The new regionalised plans would accelerate that process of recovery.
The Championship and League One, meanwhile, are set for D-Day votes this week to determine how to end their seasons.
League Two voted to end the season on a points-per-game basis, with a play-off tournament for promotion but without relegating the bottom club Stevenage to the National League.
The EFL are likely to present the two unresolved divisions with a series of option, such as playing on, or ending the season now but continuing with the play-offs, or ending the season now with the top three to go up.
Clubs will vote until they have reached a 51-per-cent majority on one option.
However, with Premier League clubs such as Norwich suggesting it would be unfair to promote clubs if the top flight concludes and the Championship does not, there may be a will to play on to ensure the principle of promotion is not compromised.
The EPL will be looking on closely if the EFL decide clubs should not be relegated on the basis of a curtailed season but insist on three clubs still going up to the top division. The English top flight hope to restart on June 12 but testing concerns mean a return could be pushed back a further two weeks to June 26.