SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL - PART ONE

REGIONAL DIVISIONS IN LOWER LEAGUE FOOTBALL?

The much publicised financial situations of clubs such as Darlington and Kettering Town show that many Football League and Blue Square Premier are struggling with their finances. Increased petrol costs and costly overnight hotel stays are just two things putting a big drain on club's bank balances.

The solution that Soccer Intelligence puts forward is to form regional divisions from the current national League's One, Two and the Blue Square Premier. Since the advent of two up/two down from League Two to non-league's top division many of the Conference/BSP teams have become professional and grounds have improved, with most now clearly suitable for League Football. In effect it has become the 'fifth division'.

The proposal would save club's money on the afformentioned petrol and travel costs with crowds increasing due to more local games allowing for the supporters shorter travelling distances thus increasing revenue streams all round.

Currently in the Blue Square Premier, for example, Gateshead travel to Forest Green Rovers and Bath City have to trek to Barrow. This just doesn't make sense - Would it be far better for Gateshead to play club's such as Carlise United and Hartlepool United in the the mock divisions Soccer Intelligence has drawn up below?

In the Spanish Football League system only the top two divisions are national (only La Liga and the Segunda Division), in the German Football pyramid the divisions are regional from Level Four with most other European nations following suit. English football would only be mirroring their continental counterparts and bringing back what was in place as The Football League's Division Three's South and North from 1921 until 1958.

SOCCER INTELLIGENCE THIRD DIVISIONS FOR 2011/12 

NORTH                      MIDLANDS                      SOUTH 
1. ACCRINGTON STANLEY      1. BURTON ALBION              1. AFC WIMBLEDON 
2. ALFRETON TOWN           2. CAMBRIDGE UNITED           2. ALDERSHOT TOWN
3. BARROW                  3. CHESTERFIELD               3. BARNET
4. BRADFORD CITY           4. COLCHESTER UNITED          4. BATH CITY
5. BURY                    5. CREWE ALEXANDRA            5. BOURNEMOUTH
6. CARLISE UNITED          6. GRIMSBY TOWN               6. BRAINTREE TOWN
7. DARLINGTON              7. HEREFORD UNITED            7. BRENTFORD  
8. FLEETWOOD TOWN          8. KETTERING TOWN             8. BRISTOL ROVERS   
9. GATESHEAD               9. KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS     9. CHARLTON ATHLETIC
10.HARTLEPOOL UNITED       10.LINCOLN CITY               10.CHELTENHAM TOWN 
11.HUDDERSFIELD TOWN       11.LUTON TOWN                 11.CRAWLEY TOWN
12.MACCLESFIELD TOWN       12.MANSFIELD TOWN             12.DAG & RED 
13.MORECAMBE               13.MK DONS                    13.EBBSFLEET UNITED 
14.OLDHAM ATHLETIC         14.NEWPORT COUNTY             14.EXETER CITY  
15.PRESTON NORTH END       15.NORTHAMPTON TOWN           15.FOREST GREEN ROVERS   
16.ROCHDALE                16.NOTTS COUNTY               16.GILLINGHAM
17.ROTHERHAM UNITED        17.PORT VALE                  17.HAYES & YEADING 
18.SCUNTHORPE UNITED       18.SHREWSBURY TOWN            18.LEYTON ORIENT  
19.SHEFFIELD UNITED        19.STEVENAGE                  19.OXFORD UNITED 
20.SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY     20.TAMWORTH                   20.PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
21.SOUTHPORT               21.AFC TELFORD                21.SOUTHEND UNITED  
22.STOCKPORT COUNTY        22.WALSALL                    22.SWINDON TOWN 
23.TRANMERE ROVERS         23.WREXHAM                    23.TORQUAY UNTED 
24.YORK CITY               24.WYCOMBE WANDERERS          24.YEOVIL TOWN

It's not an exact science as some teams may well complain that the Blue Sqaure Premier sides are getting elevated two levels on the back of the reorganisation. Fans of Stevenage FC could argue their team has worked hard to get into League One over the past two seasons only for Luton Town to be 'promoted' to the new Midlands Division.

Also clubs on the borders of the Midlands/South and North such as Stevenage/Wycombe Wanderers/Luton Town who could fit into the South Division and likewise Port Vale/Crewe Alexandra/Wrexham in the Midlands/North divisions may put forward questions about which division they are placed in. With promotion and relegation there may become too many teams in one area like the current Blue Square South and North divisions where Bishops Stortford, Gloucester City and Histon are currently placed in the North Division.

Promotion to the Championship is also another question to be debated. Maybe four up/four down with the title winners going up automatically and then a play-off competition between the three divisions teams in places 2 to 5?? 

It's complicated and it won't be easy but in the long run crowds will increase therefore hopefully securing the future development of lower league football clubs in England.