When
life finally returns to normal following the end of the corona virus pandemic,
it is probably fair to say that some things will never be the same again.
It's also appearing increasingly likely that
lower-league football in England will not be exempt from this rule. An absence
of match day income during the coronavirus outbreak, many clubs have furloughed
their non-footballing staff and forced players to accept pay cuts while entire
leagues have been suspended.
Although the health of the nation is at
the forefront of the population's mind at the moment, and rightly so, but once
the coronavirus has been brought fully under control people are likely to be
turning to football as a source of escapism.
The question remains - what form will it take
once it returns?
Since the turn of the century, lower league
football has had to endure several difficult periods which have left many clubs
facing financial difficulties. Firstly, there was the collapse of the ITV
Digital TV deal in 2002 that left many clubs facing administration. Later in
the decade this was followed by the 'credit crunch' in 2008 - which had a
knock-on effect on the lower leagues.
In the following decade, Halifax, Chester,
Darlington and Hereford all went into liquidation before reforming as
phoenix clubs. Whether any teams will experience a similar fate in the
wake of the coronavirus outbreak remains to be seen.
One of the bigger questions facing the
future of the game is: 'could now be the time to close the gap between
League Two and the National League for good, and could the present climate
represent an opportunity for a return of regionalisation?'
In 1959, Division Three North and South merged
to form Divisions Three and Four - the present day League One and Two. However,
a return to those days would potentially create two uncompetitive leagues
dominated by the same clubs every year. But a merger between League Two and the
National League creating a League Two North and a League North, with National
Leagues North and South acting as feeder divisions, could be more feasible.
With almost all clubs in the National League
now full-time, many sides who have won promotion into League Two have then gone
on to win promotion to League One since promotion between the GM Vauxhall
Conference (as it was then known) and the Football League was introduced in the
1986-87 season. So, in terms of the quality there is now very little difference
between League Two and the National League.
For many clubs,
particularly for Torquay United and Yeovil Town and other sides in remote
geographical locations of the country, a regionalised league format would mean
less travelling, fewer overnight stays as well as more local derbies and the
potential for bigger crowds and away followings. If a League Two South was in
operation this season local trips to Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, Cheltenham
Town, Forest Green Rovers, Swindon Town and Newport County would be on the
agenda for the Gulls and the Glovers.
It would also mean an end to the scenario that Torquay faced in their previous spell in the National League, between 2014 and 2018, when they frequently found themselves travelling over 300 miles to Gateshead to play in front of three figure crowds at the Heed's International Stadium home.
Nevertheless, as with many ideas there will be those who will benefit from them and there will also be those who will be disadvantaged. A split made on a North/South basis will no doubt mean that there will be possible anomalies for the clubs in the Midlands. This is evidenced by the presence of Hereford FC, Southern Premier League champions in 2018, in National League North.
Also, there is the possibility that a North and South divide could create a strong northern section and a weak southern section and vice versa. One of the great strengths of the present system is that on the opening day of the season every team has an equal chance of promotion the moment the first ball is kicked.
However, the current coronavirus pandemic has created a situation that is unprecedented in modern times and many events, such as the Olympics and Wimbledon, are being cancelled or postponed for the first time since the second world war. Therefore, lower league football has to adapt in the wake of the present climate one way or another.
