so bye bye Ryman

[pabird]

I take it the Conference press release today is bye bye Ryman Dr Martin etc

If the conference expands (all in the best possible interest of non-league football??) to 1,2 or three leagues that must take care of the present feeder system

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Whatever_anim.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

[Freebird]

Dont see your point

 

I would say only about 10 from the Ryman Premier would make it into a changed Cenfreence.

 

That leaves place for the 16 about to be dropped from Div 2 to stay in and then the Rymans runs as a Premier, Div 1 North and Div One South

 

With the Essex Senior and Spartan South Midlands feeding into the North

 

and the Combined Counties feeding into the South

 

Thats not taking into account the possable move of some Southern league clubs in the south east to the Ryman League

 

 

 

[Ofiicial]

Money talks in football dear boy and the Nationwide sponsorship is with the FA and not singularly the conference. Don't fret. Its a game of chess for barrell chested, self important grey hairs with brief cases who have (mostly) never played the beautiful game in their lives. Won't happen methinks. If it does, we'll have to get on with it but you are right, it will destroy the pyramid feeder leagues and also end in financial mayhem. Brilliant, just what you'd expect from football committees. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool_shades.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

A lovely dream but ignores that great football question where has the money gone??

 

[pabird]

It would appear now that "it" will happen

The present feeder league blazers will scurry around making all sorts of threats but the clubs with ambition and the money to support the ambition will apply to (and mostly will) join the new set-up

If the only way upwards in the future is for clubs to apply to join the new conference div 2 (south or north)then existing feeder leagues will be playing for very much smaller marbles

That is of course if the new set-up tolerates relegation from the div 2 leagues, If not? local backers will only support conference based sides in the safe and certain knowledge that it is the only route to the dreamed of nationwide league status

The majority of publicity garnered by non-league including TV coverage will go almost solely to the wider conference set-up and with it any reasonable level of area or national sponsership

 

 

[CANV EFM]

conf north and south seems like a good idea with two up from each (one as a play off place).. but only if these leagues then have 2 feeders each into them.. its all well and good clubs doing ok at the moment jumping into the new arrangement (and they would be foolish not to) but it is totally unfair to cut adrift all the teams who just happen to be having a few poor seasons .. if this happened 5 years ago or 5 years hence a totally different batch of teams could be involved.. and how can you justify cutting out teams with some serious 'previous form' such as wealdstone, dulwich, sluff etc

[pabird]

A logical answer Canv but those clubs would be fighting to get in at the present Rymen Dr Martin 1st div level not first into premier as at present (Ryman Dr Martin etc premier involvement does carry weight at present)

The interest by local money and the need to gain sufficient foot traffic through the gate to upgrade grounds etc would be almost impossible to carry

Players would see signing for "junior" feeder league sides as too big a step down

There is the expectations at present of joining a "premier" league not spending all that money and effort to join a div 2 set-up

We are moving toward senior county league then step-up to junior feeder league prior to a very substantial battle through the conference leagues

There will be a place for all but money concentrated at the top end of non-league as never before

 

 

 

 

 

[CANV EFM]

yeah your right pa. but seems a shame in say wealdstones case( as one example) where they have come through some real problems after doing the non league double in the early 80's and have just got a ground sorted and can easily generate good size crowds (i reckon in the prem they would be top 3 in attendances).. if this goes thru at the end of this season they will have a real jump to make in what would probably be a one up only arrangement into conf south.. they are probably the most obvious case of getting tucked up by this plan and the timing of it..but there are others.. still as you say its gonna happen, i would be surprised if they can pull if off by the end of this season tho.. if it goes into next season then this years relegation battle in the prem and the north south promotion battles really are make or break !!

[pabird]

I agree Canv and I also remember playing agianst and watching prestige outfits in their day such as D.Hamlet (the best pitch ever in non-league), Leatherhead, Finchly etc.

Wealdstone being on the up with established admin and finance would probably be able to make the long haul

If the change does go back a season the dog fight next year will be wonderous to behold

Think of the well established premier (but suffering) sides who will have major problems and others such as Braintree who having battled into the "premier" (one league from the nationwide) find they are playing in a league two very much bigger strides from the nationwide

The other key issue yet to be declared by the conference is the specification for grounds entering the new conference south / north or div 2

Teams such as CIFC are already upgrading to known requirements but will that be the standard across all conference control or will there be improvements required graduated to the promotions if or when achieved

The term running before learning to walk springs to mind

[Simon BTFC]

The strange thing to my way of thinking is that with a regionalised div 3 looking increasingly likely we could then wind up with a football fish shape instead of a pyramid:

 

Prem

Div 1,2

Div 3N Div 3S

Conf1

Conf 1N Conf 1S

 

(Maybe not a fish shape but you know what I mean <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

 

Am pretty confident it won't happen this season as the timing is far too short.

 

[CANV EFM]

if that happens simon the current conference will cease to exist as all those clubs will make up the numbers required for two div 3's.. thus leaving 2 conf leagues (north n south) to feed into these...

some more suspicious souls amongst us may think that moules has realised this and is securing the 'best of the rest' for for the future....

regardless of the politics, i think that regional div 3's and conferences (or div 4's if you wish to call them that) are exactly what football needs at the lower levels.. with three up and three down.. and two up from each div 3 into a four down div 2... bloody hell ive given myself a migrane!

[pabird]

I agree Canv the shape would be established along with the standards that we assume would not change every time an unpopular side gained promotion

Looking further into the mist (or gloom) of the future the money support and the establishment of one governing body could be the best way forward in developing schemes for younger players to emerge into non-league

Junior and reserve team sides could be established with real meaningful intent in allowing youngsters (mostly late developers) to understand and "see" the way forward

Further in building genuine development of the non-league scene the arrival of a single governing body should see development of education for coaches at all levels

I cannot wait for my 200th birthday and all this coming to fruition

[Cressing Toad]

So any one know which Ryman clubs will be applying for the new conference league? I expect Canvey and Aldershot will as they already make no bones about their desire for conference football, so who else?

[BTFC Eagle]

Bedford Town

[CANV EFM]

more a question of who wont i think

[BTFC Eagle]

suppose the answer to that CANV is HAMPTON AND RICHMOND????

 

 

[CANV EFM]

heybridge ?

[pabird]

So what of the teams that ground share?

Being able to always be in-line with Conference reg!s would appear to be out of the question in particular when the sharing team is not the principle owner of the ground

[pabird]

The conference have made a press release that ignores the FA block on the expansion move until next year, as below

 

The Nationwide Conference announced today that their recent invitation to clubs in the premier divisions of the three feeder leagues to join a new conference format has been oversubscribed with 75% of the 69 clubs eligible applying to be part of the new structure

 

Conference cheif executive , John Moules said "This is an overwhelming declaration by the clubs themselves that they regard change as necessary-and they want it now! They no longer want to be embroiled in ant further delays, surveys, or politics football is about clubs and the clubs have on this occasion spoken, if, we live in a democracy then the simple rule change to expand the conference to 66 clubs should be implemented immediately to be in place for season 2003/2004

 

He continued "our preference is to have two semi-national divisions feeding into the current nationwide conference of 22 member clubs We propose to continue to operate promotion of three clubs from the feeder leagues premier divisions and introduce play-offs between the three conference divisions while increasing promotion with play-offs with the three feederleagues and the two semi-national divisions. The net effect on all of the proposed changes will benefit each level of football with increased promotion and the excitement of play-offs. The net affect of the new structure will provide excitement throughout a playing season and increase attendances. It also provides for the football foundation to channel grants to promoted clubs, as opposed to the current system of funding all those in contention for promotion as the entry criteria for the two semi-national divisions will be set to accommodate this and will be a lower requirement than the current conference criteria.

 

"We have already commenced discussions on new sponsorship and we are progressing the task of selecting the 44 clubs who would form the two new semi-national divisions, This will be a lengthy process and those who have not applied will need to meet the deadline this monthwith their completed application forms to be included in the selection process

 

End of statement, I have attempted to replicate every word correctly but difficult with some of the BS

We have a very interesting few months ahead

 

 

[pabird]

In all the press statements etc delivered since the proposed change from both sides of the divide not one word as to the benefits for players,fans or non-league football development has been uttered

"How" is at this stage more important than "When"

"Why" should the football world pay interest in the political desire for change or the political desire for status quo when the only benefits discussed are those the fans and players imagine

 

What chances are there of senior management of the conference or the challenged feeder leagues describing their intended plans for development as opposed to political change in non-league football