Promotion & Relegation.

[delboy]

With Daventy United & Northampton Spencer dropping out of the UCL Prem next season, does this altogether have a bearing on the promotion & relegation places in both UCL Prem & UCL Div 1 ?? How many teams are allowed to go up in from the UCL Prem this season ?? Looks like Kings Lynn will definately go but is 2nd or 3rd place enough for those teams to join them as well. Do either Long Buckby or St Ives have ambitions to go up this season ??. Sorry for all the questions but does anyone have the answers ??

[desboroughvp]

I think we will all be put more in the picture following the UCL's monthly meeting on 2nd April where no doubt the subject of Daventry, Wooton Blue Cross and Spencer will be top of the agenda.

Whilst I am unsure as to what the league will do in terms of replacing the space Daventry United have left behind I am 99% certain that one team will be spared from relegation this season.

As far as the promotion race in Division One is concerned I might be wrong but I think that Bugbrooke St Michaels is the only team who's ground has everything in place for the Premier Division. I am unsure about Huntingdon and I believe that Harborough will not make it as they don't have a seating stand which is of course a Premier Division requirement.

The FA rules state that they will only promote the team in second place to Step 4 if the champion club did not apply for promotion and/or have failed in terms of the standard of their ground. As Kings Lynn have both applied and own a ground which has hosted higher level football it does appear that Long Buckby and St Ives will have to wait until at least next season to make their way into the Southern League.

[skitzosarmy]

desboroughvp i can't talk for huntingdon although i've heard they should be ok, but i believe everything should also be ok for Harborough Town, as a stand is on order and complies with Premier League regulations, although that all depends on the position they finish in of course

[trueroman]

i thought everything had to be completed by end of march. having it on order is not complete so harborough if this true hav got some work to do this week

[baldysutd]

and they say us linnets are counting chickens.

[skitzosarmy]

we've been told that it only needs to be on order, and we have that in writing also, so we are assuming that to be correct (we will soon find out of course) and would be pretty miffed if they change their mind

[benchwarmer]

At Huntingdon we were told the stand has to be in place, our stand will be in place on Wednesday.

[Grissles Oleary]

I was always under the impression that if work was started before the end of March it was allowable?

[desboroughvp]

Reading through the posts on this thread a possible scenario could be-

X2 of Huntingdon Town/Harborough Town/Bugbrooke St Michaels promoted to the Premier Division

Northampton Spencer relegated to Division One

AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Harrowby United join Division One

= 21 teams in the Premier Division, 18 in Division One

[kevinb]

..............and with possibly at least two of the remaining sides in the Premier NOT holding on to their F Grade for next season, that could make 19 in the Prem and 20 in Div One! Should be a very interesting close season, no watering, no grass growing, do we spend or don't we, what will the FA do, all these questions and so FEW answers! Cheer up, the sun's shining and we've just been thrashed 5-0 at Home by a very good St Ives side who did us proud by bringing a good crowd with them to put a little bit in the coffers for us! Interesting comments from true roman about facilities.

[railwatcher]

No answers indeed Kevin, no word more to the point, we got stuffed 7-0 but smiling as ya say

All against the run of play lol

[fozwaldo]

Still smiling after heavy home defeats? How can the FA ignore such 'positivity'.

I wonder how many in the baronial halls of Wembley actually know which side of the ball has to be kicked!! :-)

[glintonian]

PNS did,nt have there luc's reading in before the end march, so was made to stay in div 1
two season as was silby rangers so if the cap fits

[desboroboy]

For what its worth, my possible end of season scenario.
Premier currently 21 teams
Minus - Kings Lynn (up) Spencer (vol demoted) and Dav Utd (resign)
Plus - 2 from top 3 of div 1 promoted = 20 teams

Div 1 currently 17 teams
Minus - 2 teams promoted minus Wootton (resign)
Plus - 2 new entrants & Spencer = 17 teams
(Div 1 could be 18 if Wootton stay)
(Prem could be 21 if KL don't win prem and LB's ground isn't grade E)

[foundrymankev]

One of the most frustrating issues in non-league, certainly at Step 4 and 5 is that winning the league merely improves your chances for promotion, it does not guarantee it, so any predictions are purely that,although worthy of debate (bar room chat really) . It's not over yet, there's several games to go and thankfully KL and LB keep us on the edge towards the close, which is great for the UCL. Equally the 4 sides involved in the relegation battle keep it interesting. Hopefully in both instances it will go to the last games of the season.
Next season will be even worse whereas clubs have been informed that the FA Review Group restructure will be known by all by the time the first ball is kicked in anger in August, will we know, as we should every season, how many promoted and relegated. I understand the complexities but out of fairness to clubs we should all know what we are aiming for as the season starts and not wait until points are won, positions finalised and still not know immediately. Maybe grading inspections need a more suitable date to align it to the start of a season rather than 3/4s of the way through.