FALLON (Login MARTINFALLON) from IP address 194.152.93.186
Hi,
I have just read an interesting posting on Runcorn's DYPAM website, stating that Runcorn and Wakefield & Emley have been refused entry to the Conference because the grounds are not dedicated football grounds.
Does anybody know anything about this? Do Conference rules not allow teams in who play at Rugby grounds? Does the same apply to Gateshead who play at an Atletics ground? What about Leigh RMI, who also share with a rugby club?
Tis all true I am afraid. Those clubs either don't have there own ground or aint first in the pecking order for the ground... Runcorn for example are (I believe) third behind Rugby and Everton reserves for ground use.
Only three clubs can possibly go up out of the current top ten. Accy, Stalybridge and I think maybe Barrow..Although I aint sure on the last one. No insult intended Barrow just can't recall if you where the third one listed.
And remember. Ya have to win it to go up this season. Second place behind someone who can't go up won't do.
Whilst Athletics is staged there, I cannot see it affecting the footy...
It would not be a suprise to see the goalposts moved on a constant basis, until such time as the Conference have a nice number of teams, lets say, 44. who fit the criteria for Conference North and South.?
This summer could be very,very busy.
Also bear in mind that the Unibond League ground grading kicks in on 31st March. My info is that 10 clubs in the league don't have the grading yet, and 6 of those 10 stand little or no chance of acheiving it.
We at Hucknall have to put in a 4th Turnstile (which will be full of cobwebs in 3 months, but hey ho.!)
It will be interesting to see what the league do with these 10 clubs who don't have the standards by 1st April.
Whitby will not have, that i'm certain of, but will they relegate every club not conforming.
Will the fact that some clubs, like Whitby, nearly have the funding, but are months and months behind schedule be looked on favourably.
One thing is for sure, I bet Hyde are safe again!!
Yes Kipax we will be the third club although there is still a little confusion as to how our liquidation status will affect us.
Hopefully it should be sorted by the end of the season and the Conference have said we can go into Conference 2 no matter what but then these are the same people who said we would retain our place back in 99 so I wouldn't trust them too much.
Craigo I think you are confused...I don't think the Unibond will be relegating clubs who don't have Conference standard grounds, it's just that if they won the League then they wouldn't be able to go up. So relax all you fans of Marine, Frickley etc etc
The Unibond will be relegating clubs whose ground does not meet the Unibond standard, but I can't remember if that happens during this close season or 2004.
I believe the UniBond League stated that Premier Division clubs who did not meet the "A" grading criteria by 31st March may (not will) face relegation. At Frickley we still have a few things to do but, hopefully, we should have everything done by the dealine. Mind you, the way things are going at present on the field we could end up getting relegated anyway!!!
Kippax - you need to get your facts right. Unibond rules state that if the Champion club cannot or does not want to get promotion to the Conference, then the second placed club can take their place, subject to meeting the relevant citeria.
Second in the league can get promoted.
I heard that from this season onwards, only the league champions can be promoted. If the Champions won the league and their ground was not up to Conference standard, then the runners-up would not be allowed to take their place.
I was reading about Falkirk and Caley Thistle being barred from promotion from SFL division 1 (a league broadly equivalent in standard and gate levels to the Nationwide Conference and Football League Division 3). For those who don't know, a 10,000 capacity all seater stadium is the minimum requirement for entry to the SPL. But for a 1st division side to build one requires taking on crippling debts to build a ground of a size that makes no business sense whatever unless you are playing against the old firm on a regular basis, which 1st division sides aren't.
Anyway, the upshot is that Falkirk plan to challenge the restriction under the European restriction of trade laws. They argue that it is an artificial barrier created to prevent competition. I am no lawyer but as I understand it, if Falkirk were to win their case, the ruling could well be applicable throughout europe (remember Bosman) and therefore could, potentially, have knock on implications for the Unibond league and the English pyramid in general.
While I think the odds are against Falkirk succeeding (but then again the odds were against Bosman) it could be interesting to see how that case develops.
But whatever happens some lawyers will make a lot of money!
The question of relegation of clubs not meeting the standards is an intriguing one. Add to it the statement made by Mr Bayley that, if and when clubs leave to join Conference 2, the UniBond may operate with just one division - well, how else do they get rid of the surplus clubs? Neat move!
Second..Ho dear. I have got my facts right mate. It is you who have not. How strange that your telling me off while spouting your own missinformation. The FACT is that you can NOT be promoted unless you win the league. You can tell everyone I am wrong until your blue in the face if you like. But at least look into it first eh?
Kipper is right. Only the champions can get promoted. Apparently this was one of the 'revenges' takenby the Conference when the FC2 wa rejected first time round.
"The Champion Club of the Premier Division providing they have a grading stabdard equivalent to Grade A, will be eligible to make application to the Football Conference at their AGM. Should the Champion club no wish for promotion or alternatively not have the necessary grading standards, then the second placed club will be eligible under tha same conditions."
Which, to me, suggests that the runners-up can still be promoted. I may be wrong, but I believe what Kipax is quoting is what the Conference intimated when they were 1st refused their second promotion place to the Football League (when they took their ball home!)
Reak Vegas.. It would seem I am right and you are wrong. So telling me I should get my facts right is something you should maybe think of apologising for.
You can't be promoted unless you are top. You cannot get in behind the top team.
As a regular watcher of Scottish 1st division leaders Falkirk, in my opinion, this current Falkirk team would would comfortably fit into the top half of the Nationwide 2nd division. Sadly, the team will be broken up at the end of the season as the vultures swoop to pick off the likes of Collin Samuel, Lee Miller and Mark Kerr.
The problems with the game up there go so much further than the quibbling over the 10,000 all-seater SPL rule.
The SPL is damaging the game in Scotland. It's not allowing clubs to progress and strengthen. With no relegation to the 1st division, and no adequate competition for the Old Firm, what is the point of the SPL? As for the split three-quarters of the way through the season - what nonsense.
There is a campaign going, usually by embittered fans of other jealous 1st division sides like St Mirren to slag off Falkirk at every opportunity, saying we should have spent money on the ground instead of players. It's a myth. We had no money for the last four or five seasons and had to release half the team at the end of each season. Which is why we were so terrible last season. The playing staff had been cut to the bone.
We couldn't rebuild the ground as it's hemmed in and expansion is impossible. Even if we bolted seats to the terracing, we'd probably only fit in around 5000 seats, so we'd still fail to meet the 10,000 all-seat criteria. As for just building a new ground somewhere else. They've obviously not heard of planning permission. Something which Falkirk Council has been reluctant to approve for a number of years now.
As a long time follower of Scottish semi-pro fitba', I wholeheartedly agree with much of what you say.
In terms of the strength of SFL1, I was referring to the division in general rather than Falkirk in particular. Since I havent seen this year's Bairns in action I will take your word for how well they are playing.
Even with all the problems Scotland has, Gretna moved to the SFL but I just can't imagine Berwick Rangers applying to move to semi-pro football here in England's Unibond league or Conference. Can you?
All the best. Please let us know of any developments in their case that might be of relevance to promotion in the English pyramid.
Kipax - on what grounds do you think you are correct?
Before you ask, my evidence is the Unibond League rule book.
I was not aware that you are a greater authority than the 2002-2003 rulebook.
Is Duncan Bailey aware of this? If not, I think he should be told.
Your telling me to check my facts and waiting for my apology.. How daft are you going to feel when you find out I am telling the truth.
You have to win the league to be promoted. 2nd 3rd or any other place behind a team that cannot go up will not get you promoted. Ohers agree. Not just me saying it.
I explained that the rules where changed later thus putting the handbook out of date.
Can't wait for your apology mate.. make a change from the sarcasm
This issue was first raised (that I know of!) on 17th December 2002 by Mark of BPA fame
Although no official answer was given, there was confirmation of the new restriction from an Accrington supporter, a Hendon fan, a Yeovil webmaster and a Canvey Island supporter.
It seems as though you were all educated in the school of thought 'If I say it often enough/shout loud enough* (*delete as appropriate) it must be true.'
As some guys from Accrington, Canvey, Hendon and Yeovil think it is fact it must be true. The weight of evidence is clearly overwhelming.
I just hope you lot never have occasion to bear witness in a court of law.
Real Vegas that has to be the poorest apology I have ever seen.
I haven't got any evidence that the rule was changed. You haven't got any evidence that the rule wasn't changed.
I was told by one of the directors of the club at a supporters club meeting. Thats not proof or evidence but thats how I know. I have since had this confirmed by many people at many different clubs.
I think your waiting until this thread gets to the bottom of the page before admitting your wrong.. Ya don't fool me ya know
Ho and you are wrong. Funny how your the only person saying it isn't so.. That give you a clue?
Of couse it didn't look like an apology! .. It was a joke as the big smile at the end of the line showed and by the fact that I went on to explain how I knew.
But hey.. Your now resorting to childish name calling so I think I will leave you to it. Bye
Current Topic - Concerns Over Promotion - ALL READ
is right. Only the champions can get promoted. Apparently this was one of the 'revenges' takenby the Conference when the FC2 wa rejected first time round.