National League 24/25

I think with increased crowds, a promotion and the possibility of another, I think Colwyn Bay have done relatively well out of the switch. It’s not as though they were doing well in the English system at the time they switched.

Which is why I’m not surprised Merthyr have stayed put, because they are (finally) doing well for themselves, especially after a few difficult years pre-pandemic.

As I may have alluded to elsewhere I live in Wales. I also regularly attend Welsh domestic football across the pyramid. As much as I enjoy it, there’s a lot lacking, in terms of playing quality, facilities and support, and I think the involvement at some level of the 4 Welsh Football League clubs (such as the proposed league cup idea) would have been beneficial.

I do think Merthyr made the best choice for their club. Hopefully that £6 million can go to clubs in the Welsh system. I won’t hold my breath.

 

Its just Wrexham wanting to change everything to suit themselves as usual

 

Never going to happen, unless the premier league which now run football not the FA put pressure on league clubs with funding etc. it’s like turkeys voting for Christmas.

 

I dont know, genuinely wished we had voted for it back in the efl days. We would have gone down regardless, second bottom, so its only that 3rd placed team that will start crying, and you know at the start of the season its bottom 3.

We may have half a chance of going up this season with 3 up. 2 up, cant see us finishing top now so its a lottery, and if we keep ticking over quietly our season is effectively on ice until april, barring a major swing in form either way

 

I support the proposal but they could have timed the campaign better. Doing it whilst the top 3 is Barnet, Forest Green and York kills it because they’re so tinpot and the EFL won’t want them.

 

Nice try but you just keep enjoying the regional for another few seasons. This doesn't concern you

 

P&R needs a shake up through the pyramid. It's daft there are 4 promotion spots and 2 relegation spots in league 2. Make it 3up/down throughout the pyramid.
It's been needed for a long time. The leagues need a churn of teams. If anything to stop the established league clubs from seeing relegation as a disaster (it doesn't need to be). And to prevent basket cases from circling the drain and stinking out the place (Dale a good example in the late 70s and 80s, Colchester for the previous however many years).
It could probably stop what has been a daft arms race of teams down here in the last 10+ years. Shit or bust spending big transfer fees to chase 1 auto spot will eventually end in tears for someone.
I'm hopeful it'll be voted through. Half of leagues 1&2 and some Championship teams now have been down here so maybe some sympathy from their boards. Certainly from their fans.
No chance it comes into a effect immediately though. It'll surely need a few seasons notice.

 

Not sure where to post this TBH, but our owner is at it again

 

Well..quite.
This is quite dark and unsettling, it certainly doesn’t belong in the tinpot thread

 

He isn't getting any sympathy from our fans. He's done enough bad stuff himself and then cried about being the victim.

 

NL DEMAND three up three down!

National League clubs demand three promotion spots amid fears of delay

 

Sky Sports News are saying different & that the 72 EFL Clubs have voted for it .

Good news , though I'm not sure how it'll work out with the current play off system which I think is good .

Personally with the clubs wanting back door entrance to the European Competitions which was rightly denied i'd kick out Swansea , Cardiff , Wrexham , Newport , Merthyr & others from all English leagues , if Aberdeen , Hearts , Lingfield , Glentoran & others all part of the Union aren't allowed then neither should be the Welsh clubs & a 1 off promotion from National League to replace those clubs .

Rhyl v Wrexham & Port Talbot v Cardiff in the New Welsh League would be great for the economy of the smaller clubs / towns even if they'd be a equilibrium imbalance to start with .

 

surely it’s just 3rd-8th? You’d like to think they’d do that anyway.

 

I wouldn’t take the play offs down to 8th, reduce it to 3rd-6th

 

In trade we should allow the EFL to use the NL's far superior play off system.

 

Is it me or is next years national league gunna be just as competitive as this one?

Barnet york and fgr aint all going up and whoever stays down will only strengthen.

Oldham and dale should stay the course, again only strengthening and will be hoping to put pressure on the number one spot.

Ok, the relegated sides basically have no chance from the state of their clubs at the moment, but you would expect hartlepool and southend to significantly strengthen next year.

Thats already a minimum of 5 clubs who will be looking towards the top and if a surprise package takes the play off spot, its potentially more.

Once again i dont see a chesterfield but its definately wide open with a lot of strong clubs.

 

Yeah I can see it being really competitive next season. Looks like York and FGR will have the financial clout to spend big if still here. Our owners will have the ability to spend silly money but won't go wild. Money is going on infrastructure, which is sensible. Pitch is ****ed obviously. But other areas around the club have been neglected for a few years and need fixing. But they have targeted an EFL return within 3 years so might have to spend to strengthen a bit to realise that.

I think it looks like any 2 from Carlisle (probably done and dusted there), Morecambe and Tranmere are down. Aside from Morecambe you'd normally expect the other 2 to have a half decent go at things next season down here just based on crowd income. But I reckon they'll struggle.

Carlisle apparently got rich owners. But they're now saddled with players on long contracts and reportedly high wages that are a bit shit. And they've just dumped their manager. So several managers worth of players stuck that don't want to be there. Can't see that going well down here. It'll take years to sort that mess out.

I worry that Morecambe could be the next club to go bump if things are as bad as they seem there. If they survive dropping down I'd expect a Scunthorpe situation. Especially if they revert back to their previously normal crowds of 900-1000.

Tranmere I'm also fearful for them. Never ending takeover talks behind the scenes (sounds familiar for Dale fans). And I've seen rumours some of the bad actors that tried to shaft Dale are sniffing around there.

Can't see any of the relegated sides having a good stab at promotion. As you say the teams that miss out this season likely will strengthen. And the clubs who just miss out (Pools, Southend?) will have a good go at it. Should be a great season... I just hope we aren't here for It! If we are though at least there'll be some Northern/ NortWest rebalance. Especially good if Chester/Chorley/Curzon come up here.

 

Oh our gravy-fuelled hearts bleed