Regionalisation must return at City’s level (From Worcester News)

Regionalisation must return at City’s level

9:00am Tuesday 9th March 2010

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AT the end of this season, the Football Association will do a review of how the non-league game is structured.

It will look at how teams are allocated into steps one to four — the Blue Square Premier down to the Zamaretto, Ryman and Unibond leagues.

With seemingly a new team plunging into financial peril every week, such a rethink is long overdue.

But will it really go far enough?

Six years ago, a restructuring programme did away with three regional feeder leagues which promoted one team each to the Conference.

Worcester were part of the Dr Martens Premier for central and southern-based teams, including tonight’s opponents Dover Athletic.

The revamp brought an extra tier below the top-flight, forming the current Blue Square North and South.

Perhaps it is time to return to the three-league format below the Conference but with greater emphasis on regions — the south, north and Midlands. Reduced mileage and more local derbies can only be good for clubs struggling to survive in the current financial climate.

City are a case in point — geographically, they are neither really suited to the north or south.

At present, the St George’s Lane outfit do not have an away match within 70 miles and look set to lose Newport County to promotion next season.

Although more teams are nearer in Blue Square North, there would still be treks to Workington and Blyth.

Even if Worcester were relegated, they could expect jaunts to Truro City in the Zamaretto League Premier or Durham in the Unibond.

By introducing a Midlands league, meaning regionalising lower down the non-league pyramid, there would be shorter journeys and less costs.

Gates could also increase with more away fans visiting the Lane, generating much-needed revenue.

The play-off system would probably need a bit of a re-think but that’s for another day.

It is accepted travelling increases as teams progress through the divisions but common sense has to prevail at some point.

Part-time teams shelling out for 440-mile round trips to Dover on a Tuesday night is plain daft.

There are even some teams in the Blue Square Premier who are struggling to make ends meet.

Here is how a Midlands division could look based on taking teams from Blue Square South and North as well as from the top half of the Zamaretto and Unibond Premier Divisions.

Worcester City, Hinckley United, AFC Telford United, Ilkeston Town, Solihull Moors, Alfreton Town, Stafford Rangers, Redditch United, Gloucester City, Bath City, Weston-super-Mare, Brackley Town, Leamington, Nuneaton, Halesowen, Chippenham Town, Hucknall Town, Banbury United, Stourbridge, Matlock Town, Hednesford Town, Oxford City.