Manager suggests regionalising the National League for three years

Manager suggests regionalising the National League for three years to minimalise the risk of clubs going bust financially.

Former Sutton United boss Paul Doswell made the suggestion in his column for the Non League Paper, which can be read HERE.

He said after looking at the Wealdstone statement, he reckon the club are thinking more about the survival of the club rather than promotion right now.

Doswell wrote: “So how about amalgamating League One and League Two and regionalising? You could split the National League in half as North and South Premier divisions.

“You then invite the current top 10 – or 12 – from the National League North and South to make two divisions of 22.

“The feeder leagues then do similar and below can shuffle up too. For example the clubs feeling aggrieved in the Isthmian Premier, Northern Premier League and Southern League Premier would get the promotion they deserve into the new National North or National South. In principle this could work through the whole pyramid system. It means from League One down there would be regional football.”

By introducing this, it not only will see non league clubs avoid forking out £80,000 a year on travelling up and down the country but all the local derbies would boost the numbers going through the turnstiles up, meaning the boost in money will eventually make up or at least help those who have lost out over recent months.

He added: “If something like regionalising happened for a three-year period – and the effects of this situation will last that long before everything settles down again – it could breathe life into the game.

“After that, people may want it to go back to how it is now because it is deemed the best way. We’re not talking forever. But, as I’ve said before, it’s not right that within six weeks any business becomes insolvent so quickly.”

Read the full write up by clicking HERE or below…

Is it time to regionalise the top tier?

— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper) April 28, 2020

How the National League Premier North could look:
Barrow
Harrogate
Notts County
FC Halifax Town
Stockport County
Solihull Moors
Hartlepool United
Chesterfield
Wrexham
AFC Fylde
Chorley
York City
King’s Lynn Town
Brackley Town
Boston United
Altrincham
Spennymoor Town
Chester
Gateshead
Guiseley
Farsley Celtic

How the National League Premier South could look:
Yeovil Town
Boreham Wood
Woking
Barnet
Dover Athletic
Bromley
Sutton United
Torquay United
Aldershot Town
Eastleigh
Dagenham & Redbridge
Ebbsfleet United
Maidenhead United
Wealdstone
Havant & Waterlooville
Weymouth
Bath City
Slough Town
Dartford
Dorking Wanderers
Hampton & Richmond
Maidstone United