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North-south divide a burden for clubs
Reporter: Park Life: TONY BUGBY
Date online: 19/05/2009
ATHLETIC believe the Football League should explore the possibility of regionalising Coca-Cola Leagues One and Two.
Figures show respective falls in attendances of 5.4 per cent and 3.9 per cent.
Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy is convinced there are arguments for regionalisation as next season Athletic will have to find the money for up to 14 overnight stays.
Southampton, Charlton and Norwich have all been relegated from the Championship, while promoted from League Two are Brentford, Wycombe, Exeter and Shrewsbury or Gillingham.
“It probably averages £3,000 for an overnight stay so you can see this will be a large item of expense next season,” said Mr Hardy.
Athletic had been rooting for Rochdale or Bury to be promoted via the play-offs, but both bowed out, leaving the distinct possibility of Gillingham joining them in League One.
Mr Hardy added: “When you look at the composition of League One there is already a north-south split, with more southern-based teams.
“I would welcome a study into regionalising Leagues One and Two on economic grounds.
“When you look at the viability of clubs, a visit from Bury and Rochdale would bring more visiting supporters than Exeter and Yeovil.
“Clubs at our level need to bring in more revenue while at the same time look at ways to reduce expenses such as overnight stays.”
Possible “overnighters” next season are Brentford, Brighton, Charlton, Colchester, Exeter, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Southampton, Southend, Swindon, Wycombe and Yeovil.
Have Your Say
It will never work because those on the dividing line will end up switching between North and South to balance the divisions.
Don't agree. Love the trips to the south - Southampton, Charlton, Norwich, Exeter, Brighton, Orient next year. . . great booze-ups! Just because we play local doesn't mean crowds will be better, look at Crewes paltry away following last year and what Dale, Bury, Accy take away on the Championship programme! Plus the south's Latics fans' OASIS will be mighty upset! Keep it national!
so you would rather pay £70 on the train to go to exeter or gillingham on a tuesday night to watch a 0-0, having to have the day off work on the day and the day after - plus the kids having to have a day off school, then instead of playing bury or rochdale 3 or 4 times a season, battering them and having local bragging rights?
OASIS? you could fit them all in a taxi anyway!
What about us Latic's fans based in the South? I can't wait until next season; the prospect of going to Norwich, Charlton and Southampton is much more exciting than facing Darlington or Lincoln. As the economy continues to spiral downwards there will be more people heading down the M6 to find work and joining what is already a good following at Southern away games.
totally agree with this idea - playing the likes of stockport, leeds, bury, rochdale etc will create far more excitement for the fans (aswell as saving money), more revenue for the clubs and latics would probably have a decent chance of winning something! the top team goes up automatically and then there could be end of season play offs for the north against the south similar to now.thing is this would take about 15 years to be developed as most things do with the FA
By rg2403 @ 19/05/2009 12:08:16
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