MK Shrimper
Striker
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36335384
The FL proposes a shake up of the leagues, with 5 leagues with 20 teams in each!
The FL proposes a shake up of the leagues, with 5 leagues with 20 teams in each!
-
Welcome to the ShrimperZone forums.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which only gives you limited access.
Existing Users:.
Please log-in using your existing username and password. If you have any problems, please see below.
New Users:
Join our free community now and gain access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and free. Click here to join.
Fans from other clubs
We welcome and appreciate supporters from other clubs who wish to engage in sensible discussion. Please feel free to join as above but understand that this is a moderated site and those who cannot play nicely will be quickly removed.
Assistance Required
For help with the registration process or accessing your account, please send a note using the Contact us link in the footer, please include your account name. We can then provide you with a new password and verification to get you on the site.
Benfleet A1
Hector Of The House🦐
It will be the begining of regional leauges and a two tier system. Mark my words.
MK Shrimper
Striker
Long as it's not Premership B teams. :angry:
Tampa Blue
Director⭐🦐
Play 8 Games Less A Season - how would you feel?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36335384
So there are proposals to reduce the number of Teams in a Division to 20 but add an extra division which ultimately would mean 8 less games a season.
How would we feel about that?
Would Season Tickets be reduced in price?
How would clubs like us make up for the potential loss of revenue?
At first thought, I am not keen on the idea personally as it appears that the majority of clubs lower down the pyramid are more reliant upon gate money than those higher up the pyramid who are reliant upon TV money.
Is the current set up broken, if not then why fix it??
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36335384
So there are proposals to reduce the number of Teams in a Division to 20 but add an extra division which ultimately would mean 8 less games a season.
How would we feel about that?
Would Season Tickets be reduced in price?
How would clubs like us make up for the potential loss of revenue?
At first thought, I am not keen on the idea personally as it appears that the majority of clubs lower down the pyramid are more reliant upon gate money than those higher up the pyramid who are reliant upon TV money.
Is the current set up broken, if not then why fix it??
Jai
President ⭐
Seems an odd thing to suggest for those exact reasons. Clubs at this level need gate money far more than those higher up, and it's hardly like there are hundreds of England internationals in the Football League suffering burnout.
On the other hand, having some of the bigger Conference clubs back in the league would be good, and midweek games are poorly attended and can be a right pain if you're an away fan or even a home fan.
I think what most will be worried about with some justification is that the Football League will come under pressure to make those extra eight places available to Premier League B teams. There's nothing to suggest that in the official proposals, but it looks like a trojan horse to me.
On the other hand, having some of the bigger Conference clubs back in the league would be good, and midweek games are poorly attended and can be a right pain if you're an away fan or even a home fan.
I think what most will be worried about with some justification is that the Football League will come under pressure to make those extra eight places available to Premier League B teams. There's nothing to suggest that in the official proposals, but it looks like a trojan horse to me.
kaymac
Coach
Against this entirely. Gates would have to increase by something like 15pct for clubs to make up for the shortfall in dosh of having four less home games. That just aint' going to happen. Whilst at the same time players are hardly likely to accept a wage cut so who will make up for the shortfall in income, the Football League? Yet another crackpot idea.
yogi bear up the cagire
Life President⭐
Well, most of the 48 clubs in Leagues One & Two appear to struggle to survive, I don't suppose eight more will make much difference. The idea of how us lower league clubs are going to find it possible to prosper, with far less gate money, isn't really explained. Nice to know that the Premier League like the idea, just what do they know about surviving on a shoestring? I'm afraid unless there is a FAR greater redistribution of monies away from the Premiership fat cats and Championship with their parachute payments, can't see how it's going to benefit us.
Last edited:
Beefy
Life President
I don't think the finance thing is worth getting hung-up on. The Clubs need to vote this themselves (90% of them). They'll run the numbers and if it is going to cost them a lot of money then it won't go through.
I don't know, I'm in favour of looking at radical ideas which might improve our game and not getting hung up on sticking with what worked in the past. I'm struggling to see a huge benefit for this, but eight fewer games, less fixture congestion, fewer midweek matches the other side of the country... I'm not against it if the rest stacks up.
I don't know, I'm in favour of looking at radical ideas which might improve our game and not getting hung up on sticking with what worked in the past. I'm struggling to see a huge benefit for this, but eight fewer games, less fixture congestion, fewer midweek matches the other side of the country... I'm not against it if the rest stacks up.
Mick
Life President
There is no fixture congestion in Leagues One and Two. Two matches a week are not fixture congestion. Bowers had to play 13 matches in 4 weeks to clinch their promotion to the Ryman League; that is fixture congestion. As for less midweek away games, those that go to League One and Two midweek matches the other side of the country are a minute percentage of the crowd and things should not be arranged just for their benefit.
Medway Blue
Trust chairman/glutton for punishment ⭐🦐
In principle I agree. Less fixture congestion and giving Continental Competition clubs and, probably, England teams better chances to be competitive and not as affected by exhaustion can only be a good thing in my eyes. No problem with getting rid of FA Cup replays (can they move the semi-finals out of Wembley too please), nor with plans for the JPT. Feel the League Cup could have done with a shake-up though.
Obviously things that need to be looked at.
1) As people have said, those 8 spots CANNOT go to Premier League B teams. There are several big/professional clubs in the National League, just bring them up but also make sure the National League doesn't suffer.
2) What happens to ticket prices and gate receipts in a reduced league season? If there is a shortfall, how will it be plugged? Altered/new deal so that the lower reaches of the FL get plenty more money from the PL?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Obviously things that need to be looked at.
1) As people have said, those 8 spots CANNOT go to Premier League B teams. There are several big/professional clubs in the National League, just bring them up but also make sure the National League doesn't suffer.
2) What happens to ticket prices and gate receipts in a reduced league season? If there is a shortfall, how will it be plugged? Altered/new deal so that the lower reaches of the FL get plenty more money from the PL?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Supershrimper
First XI⭐
it's a nice idea, if players are paid per game. But they are paid weekly so players costs would be the same, less gate receipts for the club's although more Saturday games so long midweek trips could be cut so a few more away supporters, but I doubt not enough to make up for the loss in games. And I'm sure they'll still move to midweek games to suit tv deals.
The premiership has got 20 teams and some of the managers (Arsene Wenger) complain about fixtures and not enough space between matches.
I can see them bringing it in, then adding a 2/3 week winter break which basically cancels out the benefits and thus midweek games would be back on the menu.
The premiership has got 20 teams and some of the managers (Arsene Wenger) complain about fixtures and not enough space between matches.
I can see them bringing it in, then adding a 2/3 week winter break which basically cancels out the benefits and thus midweek games would be back on the menu.
cerbera45
Coach⭐
League One (currently 24 teams) will effectively become League Two (20 teams) with the creation of a new "League Three" division. How and who will decide which 4 teams will effectively be demoted? We could be one of the teams to ultimately lose out here as I cannot see the likes of Sheffield United, Coventry, Bolton, Charlton being chosen.
Cockle43
Manager⭐🦐
The logic is generally sound with regard to the organisation of the Leagues but the financial implications are very different.
The eight less games would allow for the removal of most midweek games from the League programme meaning none of those long treks to all parts of the country on a midweek evening and would bring all the Divisions/Leagues in line containing 20 clubs each.
However, and there's always a however, as has been pointed out, the financial implications for the lower League clubs is far greater the lower you go due to the fact that the TV money is smaller the lower you go and therefore the gate money impact is higher. The vast majority of National League clubs are now professional clubs so there won't be much of an impact there.
Unless there can be a better distribution of the TV money, which I can't see the EPL clubs agreeing to, in favour of the lower Leagues then there would need to be an increase in gate prices to maintain the general club income across 19 games as opposed to 23. The only way to avoid this is for players and staff wage bills to be reduced by a commensurate amount and I can't see that happening either which would mean the only place the lost revenue can come from is the gate price, therefore the poor old lower League supporter will be hit in the pocket again.
The danger is that anything like a 15% hike in ticket prices, which is what would be required to make up the shortfall from the lower number of games would, I believe, have an inevitable impact on gates and therefore put many clubs futures in jeopardy.
I realise that it can be argued that the total cost for a fan across the season would not necessarily increase but I don't believe the average non season ticket holding fan will see it that way, they will just see the headline price and the season ticket holder will just see a reduction of four games for the same money. I think that most will just see it as a degradation of the product and many will vote with their feet......
The eight less games would allow for the removal of most midweek games from the League programme meaning none of those long treks to all parts of the country on a midweek evening and would bring all the Divisions/Leagues in line containing 20 clubs each.
However, and there's always a however, as has been pointed out, the financial implications for the lower League clubs is far greater the lower you go due to the fact that the TV money is smaller the lower you go and therefore the gate money impact is higher. The vast majority of National League clubs are now professional clubs so there won't be much of an impact there.
Unless there can be a better distribution of the TV money, which I can't see the EPL clubs agreeing to, in favour of the lower Leagues then there would need to be an increase in gate prices to maintain the general club income across 19 games as opposed to 23. The only way to avoid this is for players and staff wage bills to be reduced by a commensurate amount and I can't see that happening either which would mean the only place the lost revenue can come from is the gate price, therefore the poor old lower League supporter will be hit in the pocket again.
The danger is that anything like a 15% hike in ticket prices, which is what would be required to make up the shortfall from the lower number of games would, I believe, have an inevitable impact on gates and therefore put many clubs futures in jeopardy.
I realise that it can be argued that the total cost for a fan across the season would not necessarily increase but I don't believe the average non season ticket holding fan will see it that way, they will just see the headline price and the season ticket holder will just see a reduction of four games for the same money. I think that most will just see it as a degradation of the product and many will vote with their feet......
Last edited:
Jam_Man
Life President
Dont get the continental and international argument. Most of the teams in the football league arent the ones with players playing in those games anyway.
I do think not having midweek games isnt a bad thing in the bottom two tiers. Whilst playing under the floodlights is always a nice thing having only 27 away fans is always disappointing. Our attendances on a Tuesday night have often been well below the average. However would the increase in attendances make up for less games? Highly doubtful.
Even the slightest chance of B teams has to be squashed instantly. There will be 6 extra teams needed for that season and the options are 6 National League sides or B Sides. If its the latter then it would be a disgrace, but as the FL chairman pointed out, when this was put forward as an option before it was voted against so they dont sound to be particularly pushing that.
Surely the top 14 of League One will stay league One (with 6 from the Championship).
Teams wont be chosen, it will be where they finish.
How on earth would promotion work that year? Would teams even be able to be promoted to the league above?
I do think not having midweek games isnt a bad thing in the bottom two tiers. Whilst playing under the floodlights is always a nice thing having only 27 away fans is always disappointing. Our attendances on a Tuesday night have often been well below the average. However would the increase in attendances make up for less games? Highly doubtful.
Even the slightest chance of B teams has to be squashed instantly. There will be 6 extra teams needed for that season and the options are 6 National League sides or B Sides. If its the latter then it would be a disgrace, but as the FL chairman pointed out, when this was put forward as an option before it was voted against so they dont sound to be particularly pushing that.
Surely the top 14 of League One will stay league One (with 6 from the Championship).
Teams wont be chosen, it will be where they finish.
How on earth would promotion work that year? Would teams even be able to be promoted to the league above?
HudsonNo1
Manager
Much like mentioned above I worry about the financial side of this plan. Teams struggle enough as it is and adding a whole other league to distribute money between and 8 more teams. I can't see how this benefits anyone other then the bigger clubs who are already big enough, and the semi pro or conference teams who will become fully professional. Even if their not actually ready for it.
Shrimpers are Magic
President
Not against change at all but like everyone else I'm guessing, if this is a way to get Arsenal and Chelsea players a run out then I'm out and frankly I WON'T GO FULL STOP.
ShrimperZone Sponsors
ShrimperZone - SUFC Player Sponsorship
Southend United Away Travel
All At Sea Fanzine
