I don't think Barrow have earned a place in the 92 merely by being in pole position when their league was closed down. They were just four points clear with nine matches to play, hardly nailed on. They may get a lucky break because the EFL is running one short, but that would mean the EFL would have to promote at least one team from League Two to get the numbers balanced. I suppose if the season is declared null and void there is nothing to prevent next season being run with one team short in League One again.

And of course if the EFL pulls up the drawbridge to save (let's assume) Stevenage and Macclesfield but admits Barrow to make its numbers up to 72, the NL is then left needing to promote one club to replace Barrow but with two candidates of equal status in the "winners" of NL North and South.

George Street-Bridge wrote:And of course if the EFL pulls up the drawbridge to save (let's assume) Stevenage and Macclesfield but admits Barrow to make its numbers up to 72, the NL is then left needing to promote one club to replace Barrow but with two candidates of equal status in the "winners" of NL North and South.

Who presumably could play-off?

Not sure that having a playoff would fit in with the declaration that the season has finished. One solution would be to relegate Chorley, who are 13 points adrift at the bottom and promote two, one from each regional league. If so that would cause a stir because neither team is significantly ahead in their division. Looks like it would be second placed Kings Lynn (on points per game) and Wealdstone (three points ahead with a game in hand).

Edit: whilst they may nominate Barrow for promotion, there's no guarantee the EFL will accept them into League Two.

What Barrow should do is as soon as promotion is secured, buy the fuel for next year's travel in advance at today's prices!

Yes, playoffs would do it. Then there's the issue of whether in the new era clubs will want to move from regional level to national.

George Street-Bridge wrote:What Barrow should do is as soon as promotion is secured, buy the fuel for next year's travel in advance at today's prices!

Yes, playoffs would do it. Then there's the issue of whether in the new era clubs will want to move from regional level to national.

Any team which is not striving to be in the division above that which they are in are going to struggle. If a team doesn't want national football they should make way for one who does.

excessbee wrote:Not sure that having a playoff would fit in with the declaration that the season has finished.

Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?

Stan A. Einstein wrote:

excessbee wrote:Not sure that having a playoff would fit in with the declaration that the season has finished.

Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?

Just wondering..... The season has finished but..... we'll just have one more game because it solves a problem.

One potential risk of regionalising Leagues 1 and 2 is that the Championship could break away and become Premier League 2 and then pull up the drawbridge stopping promotion from the EFL to the Premier Leagues 1 & 2 and stopping the solidarity payments.

Another reason why Barrow might be pushing their luck in hoping for promotion. They were four points ahead of Harrogate but one of their remaining fixtures was...... against Harrogate. If that had gone against them, one point ahead would hardly be a strong claim.

I had a Homer Simpson moment forgetting that season ended should = no playoffs.

Harrogate play on 3G so even if they had overtaken Barrow, they'd need to be prepared to rip up the pitch and would they?

They can’t end the season now. Our 6-fingered friends have clawed their way out of the bottom four (presumably by having 6 fingers on each hand). I was so looking forward to seeing them in the Conny North!

People talk about savings by reducing the travelling distances, but I think this will pale into insignificance because of the diminution of Premier and League payments.
On the basis that each regional league is likely to consist of more than 12 teams, a dilution of the present payment amounts would seem to be inevitable.