Two Up Two Down

Saturday, 8 June 2002, 0:00
2 mins read

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A ร‚ยฃ6 million compensation package over 5 years has been agreed with the existing Third Division clubs with each third division club receiving at the start of each season ร‚ยฃ50,000 as compensation for the increased threat of conference football.
All 72 league club’s chairmen gave the proposal support at yesterday’s Chairman’s conference and the plan was rubber stamped this morning at the AGM. The move was previously rejected amongst heavy criticism 12 months ago. (Swansea City were represented by Leigh Dineen and Don Goss)
The two promoted teams from the conference will each receive ร‚ยฃ35,000 for their promotion whilst the two relegated teams will
Commenting on the change, a club spokesman said "This will probably add more interest to the Third Division plus there is the added incentive that we will receive more money at the start of the season. We are not planning to be involved in that relegation fight anyway so we do not see that fans should be getting worried at this change."
Lincoln Chairman, Rob Bradley told BBC On-Line "know two down would have troubled us this year, but the principle is right. There are three or four teams going up and down in the other divisions, and I think there should be freedom of movement through the football pyramid. To have one team going up is not fair. You’ve got to stick with your principles, no matter how nervous you might be."
In my personal opinion, this is a long overdue change. The Conference has a high standard of football and there are teams in the Third Division that would struggle in the Conference. There will still be the issue that Stadia will have to meet Football League criteria for those looking to come into the League but at the same time if it increases the standard of Third Division Football then it can only be a good thing. You only have to look at the sides that have been promoted in recent years – Rushden, Kidderminster and Cheltenham – and realise that the Conference is a good standard of football. I hope that Swansea are not in a position where this becomes an issue for us but you can bet your money that there will be fans of certain clubs very worried at this prospect.
Out of interest had these rules been in place last season, Dagenham and Redbridge would have replaced Bristol Rovers in the Third Division for next season.
The only question that remains unchanged is whether this is setting the wheels in motion for an eventual merger of the two divisions with them becoming regionalised but that remains to be seen – for now I welcome this change and look forward to the extra interest that it should create.

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