Split League 2 North and South

We all know the National League is a much better standard than it once was and I think it would be a great idea.

I would like to see 2 up from each division automatically and then play-offs with a North v South final. Obviously that would mean 5 down from League 1.

Also 2 down from each division so that the National League North and South aren't deprived of the play-offs.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Premier League 1 and 2 come about.. How much TV money etc the lower leagues get then I'm not sure

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Idea being floated in Mail on Sunday (I don't read it but a friend does!)

Would take teams from National League plus one to replace Bury.

Think we would have some better away matches and avoid dreary southern trips, but presumably only two places for promotion to League 1. Possibly one via playoffs.

Also we have a lot of Exciles who would miss out on games

Could be a case of newspapers wanting to fill space rather than a credible proposal

Is that me getting 6 red crosses or the idea. It's not my idea, just saying.

The problem is with the teams that are relegated. What happens if they are all northern clubs? Do they all get relegated to the northern league making it bigger while the southern league ends up smaller? This is why Town have played in both 3rd. Div north and south.

Travel is a lot easier than when we last  had north and south 3rd. Divisions.

Leave it alone I say. If teams can't afford to travel it's because they are in financial trouble, and that is not down to travelling costs but down to mismanagement.

Feels like a solution looking for a problem. Leave it be as is.

I cannot see how we can have a next season without paying fans . where will the money come from to run the clubs and pay wages .Without a jab for it  most contact sport will be finished

I find the regulations in Germany baffling. You can tackle, man mark, get close to your man and essentially play football as it should be...subs can’t sit next to each other and they can’t shake hands...odd.

I don’t think splitting the division is as easy as people assume and let’s be realistic, if the EFL decided to do that we all know that they’d make the numbers up or readjust it to accommodate B teams because they’d be dazzled with the promise of additional money etc like they were for the Checkatrade and literally never materialised.

Just leave well alone...some of our best away games since being back in the league have been southern away days...

Felt as if something like this has been on the cards for a while.

Not saying I agree or disagree with it either way (I can see merits and faults on both sides of the argument) but purely and simply from a common sense perspective, this is the natural route for football at our level to take.

Once we eventually come out of this situation, the world is going to be a different place - included in that is football.  The economy will be in an even worse position than normal and I also think there's going to be greater scrutiny on travel (as much as I hate the lockdown situation, the improvement in the pollution levels is a positive).  Can we really justify Plymouth playing away at Carlisle and vice-versa?

I've absolutely no idea how it would be arranged and I guess relegation and promotion would be a nightmare to figure out.  But what I can see happening is that the Premier League more or less implodes because of it's own selfish interests, be it clubs wanting to preserve their status in the top flight or other clubs and the league wanting to finish the season to ensure TV money is secured.  Either way, it's about to blow up which will pave the way for the top 6 to basically leave and join a European Super League, which will generate them more money.

Minus the big boys, our domestic game will look very different and I think it will also open the door for a British league system that's regionalised in a similar pyramid style to the non-league.  

Step 2 of non-league already has this system and it was, as some here may remember if they are knocking on a bit like me, the normal format in the football league from 1921 to 1958. Town were founder members of the Third Division North which came a year later than the Third Division South which was created after WW1 mainly from the Southern League and there were complaints about the bias towards southern clubs. The regional idea was kept mainly because of the travel time and costs for small clubs when travel was almost all by rail.

Town were champions in 1956 and Scunthorpe were the last champions in 1958. Town were relegated from Div 2 in 1957-58 and played in the newly formed Third Division in 1958-9.

Personally I can't see anything much wrong in the idea of regional leagues, it is cheaper for clubs and it does mean easier travel for fans plus more derby matches. But there has to be a good number of good quality sides  and some games outside of the region for variety.

Personally, I hate the idea of regionalised divisions as high up as the FL.

But if that's what's needed in these times then so be it, I suppose.