Isthmian League: Havant (champions) plus one of Bognor, Dulwich, Enfield Town or Wingate and Finchley
Southern League: Chippenham (champions) plus one of Leamington (who knocked out Slough) or Hitchin (who knocked out Merthyr)
In practice who we will play next season will depend on the location of (a) the winners of the play offs, (b) who is promoted from Conference South and (c) who is relegated from the Conference. I think though we can assume it will include Havant, Chippenham and the winner of the Isthmian/Ryman play offs.
If four teams from the North are relegated from the National League, there will be a need for the Southern League play-off winners to join our league plus one more (Gloucester or Brackley from Conference North?).
If four teams from the North are relegated from the National League, there will be a need for the Southern League play-off winners to join our league plus one more (Gloucester or Brackley from Conference North?).
Gloucester and Brackley are both further south than Leamington, Stourbridge, York, Guiseley, North Ferriby and Southport. It is also an exceedingly close shout as to whether Gloucester is further south than Braintree but Braintree have the history in this division. Hitchin is also further north than Gloucester so I'd say a trip to Gloucester is looking rather likely next year.
It might depend where Gloucester are playing next year; they've been sharing Cheltenham's ground (which is slightly further north) but they might have to find a new temporary home next year as there's no way their new ground will be ready and Cheltenham have doubts about extending the ground share. They've been in Conference North for a few years now which may weigh against them moving to the South.
Conference National could see anything from 2 to 4 northern teams being relegated (if we think of Braintree as southern). Sadly Maidstone are safe
Should mean a 'Northern team' will join our league
-- Edited by Odin73 on Monday 1st of May 2017 05:46:08 PM
Given York, Southport, North Ferriby, Spennymoor, AFC Fylde and Leamington all have a claim on the North, AGM Cup permitting, I would now fully expect to be seeing Brackley and wherever Gloucester park their wagon next year.
Should mean a 'Northern team' will join our league
-- Edited by Odin73 on Monday 1st of May 2017 05:46:08 PM
Given York, Southport, North Ferriby, Spennymoor, AFC Fylde and Leamington all have a claim on the North, AGM Cup permitting, I would now fully expect to be seeing Brackley and wherever Gloucester park their wagon next year.
AFC Fylde have been promoted to the Premier??
We have lost Maidenhead, one of the four play off teams, Gosport, Stortford and Margate.
We have "gained" Braintree, Chippenham, Havant and Bognor.
Therefore I think there only needs to be one possible relocation as far as I can see??
Brackley finished 7th in a very competitive Conference North (which i think is probably harder to get out of than our league at the moment) so they may welcome a move South and would expect to be well up there providing the change doesn't affect too many of their squad...??
Should mean a 'Northern team' will join our league
-- Edited by Odin73 on Monday 1st of May 2017 05:46:08 PM
Given York, Southport, North Ferriby, Spennymoor, AFC Fylde and Leamington all have a claim on the North, AGM Cup permitting, I would now fully expect to be seeing Brackley and wherever Gloucester park their wagon next year.
AFC Fylde have been promoted to the Premier??
We have lost Maidenhead, one of the four play off teams, Gosport, Stortford and Margate.
We have "gained" Braintree, Chippenham, Havant and Bognor.
Therefore I think there only needs to be one possible relocation as far as I can see??
Brackley finished 7th in a very competitive Conference North (which i think is probably harder to get out of than our league at the moment) so they may welcome a move South and would expect to be well up there providing the change doesn't affect too many of their squad...??
Should have been Blyth Spartans rather than AFC Fylde, which doesn't reduce the case. However the maths may have been slightly awry. If it is one or other it may come down to who has a squad set up to play in the North more effectively, which may be Brackley, given Gloucester's change of location. I believe that argument has been used by Worcester, Leek, Lowestoft and Bishops Stortford to varying degrees of effect in the past.
-- Edited by stafford on Tuesday 2nd of May 2017 09:35:02 PM
