Would you favour a return to the North/South divide in the bottom two tiers?

Hi all,

As part of my dissertation on the economics of football I'm looking at exploring the relative costs and benefits associated with returning to a north/south system (perhaps named L1N and L1S in the modern day). The economic benefits are fairly obvious in terms of reduced transport costs leading to higher away followings on average (although certain clubs nearest the divide may well lose out) but it would be great if any of you followers of lower league clubs had a view, particularly those of you who regularly travel away.

Thanks in advance.

Watford_R.

 

Surely most football fans enjoy the longer away trips because it's more of an adventure and there's more drinking time involved, and it would be harsh to deny Barnet fans their day out in Morecambe or Bradford fans their day out to Torquay. Plus the quality of football would probably get watered down to Italian Serie C1/C2 or whatever they call it standard if you had either a smaller Division Three North/South or you had to merge divisions three and four's Northern and Southern teams into a division three and a half... if you see what I mean.

 

I agree. I think there's a definite increase in the enjoyment of going to a ground further away, particularly one I've not been to previously. Travelling home for four hours after a defeat is a bit grim though.

 

One thing that's been overlooked here is the fact that the top level of the Conference is national. With just about (if not) all sides in the Conference Prem now full time, maybe it would be better to league One alone and merge League Two and the Conference Prem into League Two North and South. Relegation wouldn't be a problem as Conference North and South are already there. With 4 relegated from League One, it will be a simple case of winers of League Two N and S up with places 2-5 in the Play-offs.
Occasionally a Midlands team will need to transfer from League Two North to south, or vice versa, but that is some-thing that will happen at what-ever level the pyramid is split. For example, Worcester City and Kettering Town have both played in Conference North and South.

 

Morecombe v Torquay or Gillingham v Exeter

where does the divide happen? Some clubs it would benefit, but a club such as Gillingham or Morecombe will always suffer with the distances yet some of these places are definite 'essential' away games for a lot of fans usually as they are by the coast!

 

The "line" will move in a Northerly or Southerly direction year in year out, which would inevitably see sides switch from North to South or vice versa. This is nothing new. A number of sides played in the old Third Division North and South. The problems arise when there is a glut of Northern or Southern sides at the same level, meaning 'the line is quite a way, geographically away from the middle of the country. This is evident this season in level six. Oxford City (Oxford is only about 20 North of the M4 - London to Bristol), but Oxford City, having gained promotion from the Southern League, have been placed in Conference North this season.

 

The Blue Square Bet South is basically a little strip of Southern England, while the Blue Square Bet North is practically a national league from Bishop's Stortford (nr London Stansted airport) north to Workington (Cumbria).

 

Would not be viable for L1 clubs as things stand at the moment you have some large clubs in terms of support levels currently in L1 to take those clubs away would leave some of the smaller clubs struggling and also who decides to effectively relegate clubs from L1 to L2 which is what it would amount to clubs in L2 might get some benefit but those in L1 currently certainly would not.

 

I would prefer to see League 2 and the Conference go North/South