Potential League 2 Merge with National League

[Thor]

Radical plan to merge League Two and the National League https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

And create a league 2 north and south. Not so sure this is a good idea. What's your thoughts?

[Fanny]

Abso-f*cking-lutely not

[Chicken Dhansak]

I, for one, do not want a return to 3rd division North and South, no way. I couldn't watch all those National League cloggers
again, we fought so hard to get out of that pit, it would make JE turn in his grave. Gawd bless him.

[RedDwarf 1881]

No, it's not very appealing to me either . I assume it would be only two teams from each league promoted to league One . That would make promotion a lot harder .As we've already seen some of those National League teams are a bit thuggish so no thanks

[Dohnut]

Not for me.

[Bergen]

Merge League 1 and 2. It could work.

Not this.

[Max B Gold]

I would like to see a return to the old Divs 1,2,3,4 set up.

[banqo]

No, definitely not.

[Red_Army]

This would be a certain way to reduce crowds of what are currently league two clubs, particularly for what would be the southern division.

Who are more likely to draw a crowd, Bradford, or Boreham Wood?

[gshaw]

It's an interesting one. When we were in NL there was a big gap between clubs who were too big to be non-league and those who were proper tinpot part-time sides.

Think something does need to change there, perhaps merging part of NL, L2 and L1 then regionalising what comes out of that. All clubs would need to be full-time with minimum ground capacity to be eligible.

[BIGRON]

I would like to see a return to the old Divs 1,2,3,4 set up.

Aint that what we have now ? Albeit premiershit and 1,2,3 .

[HeyO]

Silly idea clearly.

[StillSpike]

They can f*** right off.

[Eat The Rich]

Err... no.

[The Mindsweep]

Makes sense.

[LittleMate]

The reasoning is logical but it would have the effect of diluting the quality of league 2 level football. I suppose there would be the same argument if L1 and L2 merged, but at least all teams in that league format would be up to league standard. Some conference grounds don't come up to scratch.

This is all being discussed because of finances. I can see the cost of running a club reduced significantly by (a) cutting playing staff and player wages by 50% and (b) some even going part time.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

The reasoning is logical but it would have the effect of diluting the quality of league 2 level football. I suppose there would be the same argument if L1 and L2 merged, but at least all teams in that league format would be up to league standard. Some conference grounds don't come up to scratch.

This is all being discussed because of finances. I can see the cost of running a club reduced significantly by (a) cutting playing staff and player wages by 50% and (b) some even going part time.

Also wonder whether the rules about lower league teams and 4G pitches will be revisited.

[LittleMate]

The reasoning is logical but it would have the effect of diluting the quality of league 2 level football. I suppose there would be the same argument if L1 and L2 merged, but at least all teams in that league format would be up to league standard. Some conference grounds don't come up to scratch.

This is all being discussed because of finances. I can see the cost of running a club reduced significantly by (a) cutting playing staff and player wages by 50% and (b) some even going part time.

Also wonder whether the rules about lower league teams and 4G pitches will be revisited.

I think they are going to have to be. 4G pitches are self funding. If you look at our pitch, we seem to renew it every year and the cost is into 6 figures. We also have a groundsman. Instead of spending over £100,000 a year, we could be cost neutral. The pitches have improved too. Sevenoaks put their pitch down a year after Bromley and you can see the difference. The type of football changes a bit, but football has changed 2-3 times in the last 25 years so whats another one?

[The Mindsweep]

Great idea.

[Max B Gold]

The reasoning is logical but it would have the effect of diluting the quality of league 2 level football. I suppose there would be the same argument if L1 and L2 merged, but at least all teams in that league format would be up to league standard. Some conference grounds don't come up to scratch.

This is all being discussed because of finances. I can see the cost of running a club reduced significantly by (a) cutting playing staff and player wages by 50% and (b) some even going part time.

I've always wondered whether having about 100 full time teams is feasible. Part time must be an option so that all current EPL clubs remain viable.

[ComeOnYouOs]

I would be against this idea.
I was deliriously happy when we got out of that absolute sh*t league ( NL), and one reason was, so we wouldnt have to play the likes of Bromley, Sutton etc again.
The thought of going there and being hacked all over the place fills me with dread.
If league 1 & 2 were merged and regionalised, I wouldnt be against that

[Ornchurch]

Would it not give Orient a better chance of promotion?

All the better northern teams being replaced with inferior southern teams from the NL.

[LittleMate]

The reasoning is logical but it would have the effect of diluting the quality of league 2 level football. I suppose there would be the same argument if L1 and L2 merged, but at least all teams in that league format would be up to league standard. Some conference grounds don't come up to scratch.

This is all being discussed because of finances. I can see the cost of running a club reduced significantly by (a) cutting playing staff and player wages by 50% and (b) some even going part time.

I've always wondered whether having about 100 full time teams is feasible. Part time must be an option so that all current EPL clubs remain viable.

This whole situation reminds me of a wilder version of the post-Setanta days. It is going to take a lot of negotiation (that I can't see being successful) to stop a disparity between players with 1-2 years left to run and those that sign a deal in the summer. The ar8e has fallen out of the transfer market, so to speak.

[HeyO]

Big problems ahead.

[Omygawd]

My immediate reaction is not in a thousand feckin years but we are all, sadly, going to need to see how the financial shitstorm that is hitting lower league football plays out. Merge 1 and 2 yes, 2 and the NL no but we may just have to accept that other Club's financial positions are worse than ours and previous models are unsustainable in the future. What a bloody mess all of this is, however remember it is an article in the Mail. That rag has a truth rating of barely above zero and is well known for running a bucket of poo up a flagpole and seeing who salutes it....