Should league 1 and 2 be regionalised? Poll

[Imissbellevue]

I've heard talk that one of the proposals would be for league 1 and 2 to be merged into a North and South division. This would reduce travel costs. Increase away attendances and make the league more viable. Not sure if I've done it right but I've tried to do what the leagues would look like. I've promoted Barrow as there is an odd number of teams. What are people's thoughts on this

NORTH

BOLTON
ROTHERHAM
FLEETWOOD
SUNDERLAND
DONCASTER
BURTON
LINCOLN
ACCRINGTON
ROCHDALE
BARROW
CREWE
PORT VALE
BRADFORD
SALFORD
GRIMSBY
OLDHAM
Scunthorpe
MANSFIELD
MACCLESFIELD
MORECAMBE
BLACKPOOL
TRANMERE
SHREWSBURY
CARLISE

SOUTH

OXFORD
PORTSMOUTH
WYCOMBE
IPSWICH
GILLINGHAM
BRISTOL
M K DONS
WIMBLEDON
SOUTHEND
PLYMOUTH
EXETER
CHELTENHAM
COLCHESTER
FOREST GREEN
CRAWLEY
NEWPORT
CAMBRIDGE
LEYTON ORIENT
NORTHAMPTON
STEVENAGE
PETERBOROUGH
COVENTRY
SWINDON
WALSALL

[IDM]

You’ve got Walsall on twice - can’t work out at a first glance which team is otherwise missing.

In principle I don’t have a problem with going back to do div3 N and S. 

With your split I would probably put Shrewsbury in the north division and Walsall in the south, simply because travel would be easier that way, even though they are roughly the same N/S..

[Imissbellevue]

I've edited it thank you

[IDM]

I worked out the missing northern team - Carlisle.

[Donnybob]

For this to work competitively and prolong the interest until the final games of the season in 3N&S it would require the number of teams to be promoted to the Championship to increase accordingly, say three from each division, play-off finals at Wembley, etc, with a corresponding number of Championship teams being relegated.

Now that would make things interesting! 

With 6 teams getting relegated and 3 promoted the Championship would be a very flexible league, probably dominated by parachute payment clubs, but if that stopped or was reduced we would potentially have less reckless spending by owners, though some might argue, more.

Every team in 3N&S would be just two promotions from the Premiership putting a real financial bonanza within reach of all.

A similar parallel would be how the UK workforce went from jobs for life to the gig economy. Very flexible but not so much fun for those in the comfy jobs - your Evertons, Arsenals, etc. Complacency would go out of the window.

Can't see it happening but if there was a genuine risk of 'big' clubs dropping to the bottom tier then the will to distribute the riches of the Prem becomes more appealing as an insurance policy.

Sadly this will not happen. Pie in the sky dreaming.

[Imissbellevue]

Thank you I've added them. So if league one and two are written off that's what the league could look like.

[Imissbellevue]

Unless 5 were relegated from the championship. Then 1st and 2nd go up from both leagues. 3rd and 4th from both leagues go into a playoff 3rd placed team playing the 4th placed team from the opposite league. Maybe even 4 playoff places each league then winner of them plays the winner of the other league

[phil old leake]

It seems a good idea on paper. Financially all clubs could benefit
How will promotion work will it be top 2 in each league with 4 going down from championship
Or only champions being promoted and a playoff between 2-5 of each league culminating in a final to decide last promotion
There will be less success for clubs as a good season in league 2 and winning promotion is better for the club and fans than an average season in either league
It would also potentially mean 1 less play off final or one more if there are play offs in each league between 2-5 with a further final between the 2 winners
Has there been any talks about it any further than a suggestion

[IDM]

3 teams relegated from the championship, each divisional champion promoted.  Play off to tournament for teams finishing 2-7 in each division: first round 4v7, 5v6; second round 2v3, 4/7v5/6.  Divisional final 2/3v4/7/5/6. (Edited as my first thought seemed over complicated)

Then a grand final between the divisional play off winners at Wembley - for promotion.

Bottom club in each division relegated to the conference, top two conference teams promoted.  Teams finishing 3-6 in the conference play off, with the winner playing the loser of a play off between the second bottom sides in div 3 N and S, winner goes into 3rd division, loser in the conference.

Reorganise div 3 clubs after each season to ensure equal numbers, meaning clubs like Walsall, Northampton etc could switch between N and S often.

Therefore at the third tier there are 18 teams in total in promotion, relegation and play off slots, which is the same number as now with leagues one and two.

[Mike_F]

I'm against regionalisation. One of the most enjoyable things about supporting the club is an awayday on the train to London and we'd lose those with regionalised leagues.

Then there are the exiled supporters around the country who would never have a "home" away game. It's a no from me.

[IDM]

I too would prefer to stay as we are, Mike, much for the reasons you state.  However if it is a means to an end ie the survival of lower league clubs, I’m certainly not against regionalisation in principle.

[Glyn_Wigley]

It'll look a little odd going from regionalised to national (Conference) to regionalised again.

[IDM]

Indeed - that’s a fair point.!

[selby]

  The divisions at the moment are separated by the strength of the sides in the two divisions, division 1 being a  better standard than division 2.
  Splitting the two divisions to  regional divisions could result in a lowering of standards, probably because of the attraction of the southern part of the country that division attracting the better players.
  Economically it could prove better, but having an away support attending games may be a bit down the road even if crowds are allowed to attend.
  It is something to consider, but I would leave it until we see how a resumption is received  by the public when it returns, the numbers attending could be quite different to what we were used to for economic and health issues being considered.

[RoversAlias]

Absolutely not. I don't see how the benefits of this idea make any sense for the problem we're currently experiencing, it would take away a lot of good away trips and, more importantly, it would mean we are in a far weaker league since half of the "North" league would be current League Two teams.

We'd be one bad season away from dropping back into the Conference too. Oh and we might end up having to swap to the South if too many Northern teams go up/come down into it.

I've not seen any reports about this being considered and I'm glad because it would be a huge step backwards.

[silent majority]

Absolutely not. I don't see how the benefits of this idea make any sense for the problem we're currently experiencing, it would take away a lot of good away trips and, more importantly, it would mean we are in a far weaker league since half of the "North" league would be current League Two teams.

We'd be one bad season away from dropping back into the Conference too. Oh and we might end up having to swap to the South if too many Northern teams go up/come down into it.

I've not seen any reports about this being considered and I'm glad because it would be a huge step backwards.

That's right RA, its not even on the table so won't be happening.