The TT Debate: The North/South Divide?
By Matthew Jones
March 23 2010
In a new feature on Total Tranmere which will see montly debating topics, we ask you if you would like to see a return for North and South Divisions in the Football League, instead of Tranmere having to regularly travel the country for their away games..........
In a new feature on Total Tranmere sees us bring you a brand new debate every month, as well pose to you a question, or scenario, that is quite plausable to happen in the English game, for you to discuss on the message board.
This week, we're asking you if you would like to see a re-shuffle in the Football League, that would see a return to North and South Divisions. This would result in long away trips being severely reduced, and as a result teams playing a lot more local derbys and most likely profitting from an increase in match day ticket revenue.
The amount of money spent on away days would also be reduced, as teams wouldn't have to pay out for many hotel rooms to stay in for overnight stays at far away destinations, or pay for the coach for two days instead of one.
Tranmere Rovers this season have had to travel in excess of 7,000 miles for their away league games this season, an amount which has been increased hugely too thanks to away cup trips to Leyton Orient and of course the long trip to Brentford that got postponed.
The move back to a North Division and South Division is one that has been well supported in recent weeks, as many clubs in the lower divisions continue to struggle financially.
Last night, on the local BBC Football League show, Stockport manager Gary Ablett supported the issue, telling the BBC that he believed the only way clubs could financially survive in the forseeable future was by switching back to North and South Divisions, so that they could decrease travelling expenses and increase match day revenue.
Tranmere manager Les Parry was also on the show, revealing that Rovers this season simply couldn't afford to stay in a hotel for all of their long distance away games, which hampers their preperation for these fixtures.
The fixtures Parry mentioned were away to MK Dons and Hartlepool, games that Tarnmere interestingly enough lost, both by a 1-0 scoreline after a dismal display.
However, switching to regional leagues would not be all positive. Although there would be more local games, teams would find themselves playing the same opposition over and over again, whilst the novelty of a derby match would wear off having played in excess of 10 local fixtures per season.
There's also the added factor that teams like Tranmere would miss out on experiences such as playing away at fantastic grounds such as Carrow Road, St Marys, The Valley and The Den, homes of Norwich City, Southampton, Charlton and Millwall.
It's experiences such as this, playing in front of large crowds in excellent Premier League standard stadiums that players love, as, of course, do the fans.
Tranmere instead would have to settle for playing at grounds like Victoria Park (Hartlepool United) and Boundary Park (Oldham Athletic) every week, grounds that are nowhere near as good a standard, though do themselves have their own special feeling and atmosphere.
I'm sure many away travelling fans would also argue that long away trips to London, leaving early and coming back late, having picked up three excellent points, is a superb feeling and there's not much quite like it in football.
There debate is an interesting one, and one that I'm sure will go on for sometime, until a decision is made or at least finances improve for football clubs.
We're asking you to join in the debate as we're interested to hear what your opinions are on the issue.
Next week, following the conclusion of our Less Parry poll, we will bring you a new poll, asking you whether or not you would support a switch back to regional leagues.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:23:17:51:21 by Deadly Submarine.
The idea of shorter trips and being home earlier is appealing as id the idea of a fuller away end at Grounds for League games.
However I like certain long trips (Brighton being one) and I think it adds variety to keep it as it is!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:23:17:53:07 by Deadly Submarine.
After a while, playing all the local derbys would just take the excitement factor out of the derbys. They're great for four games a season, but 10, 12, 14 derbys? It'd get very dull in the end I think.
You also cannot beat a really good long away trip. It's a fantastic thing going all that way and coming back with a point, visiting these far off places in the country.
There's no way we should see the English leagues go back to a north and south division.
Yes it's nice to have a few local games, and at times it's expensive to follow us around BUT the best games this season (away wise) have probably been the longer ones. Even Brentford when it was called off turned out to be a good day!
This league is very southern but it's the first time in a while it's been this bias towards the southern teams really.
If Rochdale, Bury, and two of Rotherham, Notts County and Chesterfield get promoted this year and we lost for example Stockport, Wycombe, Southend and Exeter, plus losing Norwich, Leeds and Millwall/Charlton and then gaining Peterborough, Crystal Palace and Plymouth it won't look so bad next year.
We will of lost two northern teams in Stockport & Leeds, but we'll also lose five southern teams and replace them with only three (the three coming down) - and even still, Palace/Peterborough isn't as far as Norwich!.
There was something to be said for derby games, though of course, Wrexham and Southport need resurecting.
I think our reserves have sunk to a level where their opposition should be as previously; in the Cheshire league.
It's a hell of a long trip from Carlisle to the south coast.
Given that nothing seems likely to change for the better here, I'm for it.
I know some of you fellas travel 'the known world' following TRFC, but many more fans are like me, and can't get to long distance away games, but would get to a lot more away games if they were closer to home.
Reminds me of that TV show....Who DO YOu Think You ARe !!
Southend just won 3-0 at home.That's more goals than Tranmere will score in a month.
Surely the cost of travel for clubs today is chicken feed against the weekly wage bills, and I doubt if the number of supporters travelling to away games would differ to any material extent.
No,- leave it as it is, but get control over players wages, - far more important!
We should definitely keep it as it is in my opinion. We get to sample so many great grounds and different grounds and atmospheres, plus all the great long away days, as it is now. I certainly don't want that to change.
And no, I don't drink shandy. Well, hardly ever...
Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
Firstly it would have to be implemented accross the World - if we just did it in England all the better players would go to Spain, Italy etc.
Rather than a "wage cap" I'd like to see them put a cap on how much they can charge fans for entry to the games, e.g. League Two have a set price, as do League One but it's slightly higher up to the Premier League. Then cap the clubs on only being able to spend a %age of their income.
This encourages the clubs to get involved with the community and gets more people involved in football. Yes we'd still see clubs like Leeds and Soton earn more than us because their crowds are bigger BUT at least it wouldn't be £26 to get in!
It also puts a bigger focus on how the clubs market themselves and their merchandise, something which in my opinion Tranmere do poorly.
Everyone will obviously have their own opinion on this and their will be weaknesses in mine (I'm sure you'll point them out!) Maybe this could be next months debate?
Anyway back to the North/South divide thats a very good point about fans that are exiled (for all teams really!)
There's nothing better than an exciting long journey, I feel! Trips to Southampton in the FA Cup, Portsmouth FA Cup have been real highlights in my awaydays!
Keep it as it is!
Some good points made above from both sides of the arguement and all kept within in the spirit of debate.
I'm still in favour of keeping it the way it is if I'm honest although perhaps with a little bit more balance in future between North and South (hopefully)!
We will also most likely lose Norwich and possibly one or two of Colchester, Swindon and Charlton although it looks as if Peterborough, Plymouth and Palace could come down although I've always wanted to visit Plymouth's ground for some reason!