Emil's Blog
Wed 12th February 2014 | General | By Ian Templeman
This week, resident blogger and Atherton Collieries Secretary Emil Anderson reveals he is, not for the first time, in the mood for change.
I VOTE 3 UP 3 DOWN – AGAIN
I have allowed my head to be raised above the parapet once more and tabled another motion to be discussed at the NWCFL AGM at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool on Saturday 14 June.
Let me qualify my opening paragraph. I am not a perennial proposer of changes to league rules, I am not forever burning the midnight oil perusing the League Handbook and looking for statutes which need tinkering. I am sad but not that sad.
It was the AGM of 2012 when I made my only other attempt to get a Yes vote for a proposal, and my win record stands at 0-1.
However, like the Robert the Bruce and spider legend, I have dusted myself down and decided ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again’ . I am having a second crack at changing the current League rule of 2 up 2 down between the NWCFL Premier Division and Division One to 3 up 3 down.
This year though, I have added a sprinkle of spice with play offs for the 3rd promotion spot between the teams who finish 3rd – 6th in the Division 1. This motion has the backing of Rochdale Town FC and Oldham Boro FC.
In 2012 I was confident of success right up to when the motion was discussed. Immediately I knew there was no chance of a rule change. The Premier Division clubs were totally unenthusiastic about seeing three teams relegated and who could blame them. They realised what an ultra competitive competition Division One was, and when demoted it was unlikely that an immediate return would be achieved.
I could have produced a rabble rousing fire and brimstone speech that Ed Milliband would have been proud of, and it would have been to no avail. There were 22 voters on the top table and they were in the majority. The Premier Division voted en bloc and it was curtains for my proposal. I was disappointed yet philosophical.
This year there are more teams in the competition - 22 in the Premiership and 19 in Division One and the league are actively seeking the full complement of 22 in each. This figure might be reached for the commencement of next season, and once this occurs there will be mandatory relegation of teams finishing bottom of the First Division. They would be replaced by teams in promotion positions from the feeder leagues.
I’ve not got the space in this column to list all the reasons why I think 3 up 3 down would be beneficial, but I look at the standard of the second tier and am sure the top 8 would be able to more than hold their own in the level above. More liquidity between the divisions can only be a good thing.
I also understand why the Premier Division teams may still be resistant to the change and decide to look after No 1. A reason cited last time was the fact that there was only one team promoted to The Evo-Stik League. Perhaps we should start lobbying more vehemently for an increase in this number.
Our League Management Committee keeps telling us that this is our league and if we want change, it’s up to us to propose it. I have made a proposal and recruited seconders but there will be no bad dugout talk from me predicting which way the vote will go.
If a positive result is attained I want the rule change to be called ‘The Anderson Rule’. Ha ha, only joking - ‘Emil’s Law’ sound so much better. Roll on June 14th for the most important referendum in the UK in 2014!
Emil
Emil's Blog
Wed 12th February 2014 | General
By Ian Templeman
This week, resident blogger and Atherton Collieries Secretary Emil Anderson reveals he is, not for the first time, in the mood for change.
I VOTE 3 UP 3 DOWN – AGAIN
I have allowed my head to be raised above the parapet once more and tabled another motion to be discussed at the NWCFL AGM at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool on Saturday 14 June.
Let me qualify my opening paragraph. I am not a perennial proposer of changes to league rules, I am not forever burning the midnight oil perusing the League Handbook and looking for statutes which need tinkering. I am sad but not that sad.
It was the AGM of 2012 when I made my only other attempt to get a Yes vote for a proposal, and my win record stands at 0-1.
However, like the Robert the Bruce and spider legend, I have dusted myself down and decided ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again’ . I am having a second crack at changing the current League rule of 2 up 2 down between the NWCFL Premier Division and Division One to 3 up 3 down.
This year though, I have added a sprinkle of spice with play offs for the 3rd promotion spot between the teams who finish 3rd – 6th in the Division 1. This motion has the backing of Rochdale Town FC and Oldham Boro FC.
In 2012 I was confident of success right up to when the motion was discussed. Immediately I knew there was no chance of a rule change. The Premier Division clubs were totally unenthusiastic about seeing three teams relegated and who could blame them. They realised what an ultra competitive competition Division One was, and when demoted it was unlikely that an immediate return would be achieved.
I could have produced a rabble rousing fire and brimstone speech that Ed Milliband would have been proud of, and it would have been to no avail. There were 22 voters on the top table and they were in the majority. The Premier Division voted en bloc and it was curtains for my proposal. I was disappointed yet philosophical.
This year there are more teams in the competition - 22 in the Premiership and 19 in Division One and the league are actively seeking the full complement of 22 in each. This figure might be reached for the commencement of next season, and once this occurs there will be mandatory relegation of teams finishing bottom of the First Division. They would be replaced by teams in promotion positions from the feeder leagues.
I’ve not got the space in this column to list all the reasons why I think 3 up 3 down would be beneficial, but I look at the standard of the second tier and am sure the top 8 would be able to more than hold their own in the level above. More liquidity between the divisions can only be a good thing.
I also understand why the Premier Division teams may still be resistant to the change and decide to look after No 1. A reason cited last time was the fact that there was only one team promoted to The Evo-Stik League. Perhaps we should start lobbying more vehemently for an increase in this number.
Our League Management Committee keeps telling us that this is our league and if we want change, it’s up to us to propose it. I have made a proposal and recruited seconders but there will be no bad dugout talk from me predicting which way the vote will go.
If a positive result is attained I want the rule change to be called ‘The Anderson Rule’. Ha ha, only joking - ‘Emil’s Law’ sound so much better. Roll on June 14th for the most important referendum in the UK in 2014!
Emil
