The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

As we are approaching the 'sharp end' of the season to give us an outside chance of promotion we need a really strong run in to maximise our PPG (points per game). It's now accepted that we are highly unlikely to win the league, however a top two finish might give us an outside chance of promotion. Already Eastwood Town have today announced that they are unable to complete their league fixtures this season and the club's future is very unsure.

This document shows the current situation in Steps 4 and 5 and it will interesting to see how ground grading approval/rejection issues affect promotion over the next 5-6 weeks.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv? ... ring&pli=1

"If a league cannot provide an eligible club for promotion, then a reprieve shall take place at Step 4 rather than promoting from another Step 5 division."

Did mention this to a few people on Saturday, but I cannot foresee a way where we finish second and gain promotion this season, given Spalding's grading approval and willingness to go up.

surely with these things we just have to give ourselves every chance so that we are in a position to take advantage if something did happen, if a team couldn't go up or some clubs took demotion or something happened with the regionalisation.

bozzer wrote:surely with these things we just have to give ourselves every chance so that we are in a position to take advantage if something did happen, if a team couldn't go up or some clubs took demotion or something happened with the regionalisation.

I quite agree. Having watched things at this level for three season's now its clear that things are never fully predictable, and decisions are often taken that nobody had anticipated. We've had a good season, whatever happens, and whether we go up or not we'll have a stronger club ready for next season.

Anyone know how promotion works for those teams who don't finish top?
E.g. there is a space available at step 4 and all top teams in step 5 have already gone up.

Frogerz wrote:Anyone know how promotion works for those teams who don't finish top?
E.g. there is a space available at step 4 and all top teams in step 5 have already gone up.

The FA, as Rushdenjim has pointed out, may give a reprieve to a club that has finished in a Step 4 relegation place.

However PPG (points per game) may come into play, provided that a club has a) applied for promotion b) has the necessary ground grading for a higher level.

Keep an eye on the google spreadsheet, at the link that I posted earlier, which is upgraded on a regular basis by it's author, and will show ground grading approvals/rejections which will be publicised in early April.

Frogerz wrote:Anyone know how promotion works for those teams who don't finish top?
E.g. there is a space available at step 4 and all top teams in step 5 have already gone up.

This is part of the problem. The definition ought to be on the FA website, in the National League Section - http://www.thefa.com/my-football/club-l ... -steps-1-7 . However that still has the rules for last season - http://www.thefa.com/~/media/Files/TheF ... ystem.ashx - where there were special conditions as they were changing the size of certain leagues, so giving priority to leagues in the south.

There's plenty of speculation and hearsay, but little in the way of concrete facts.

There is very little point in speculating . Finish in a top two position and then we need to see which way up the coin lands after the FA have cogutated and deliberated!

Neutral wrote:There is very little point in speculating . Finish in a top two position and then we need to see which way up the coin lands after the FA have cogutated and deliberated!

Is that not what we do on forums, speculate, surmise, guess, wish, hope??
Are we to assume now your comments on the Holbeach thread regarding fearing the worst if Deaks doesn't make a start soon, was not as we may have thought speculation but instead based on fact/inside knowledge??
The may be scope for additional promotion places from 5 to 4 with Clubs having financial problems & doing a Woodford, and it's safe to presume we will be a pretential hot potato, UCL won't want to loose us & Southern League would love to have us, as it was stated on Saturday by Piggers "isn't it nice to be wanted by so many people who claim to hate us".
I think Treks spreadsheet may well be worth keeping an eye on as the season draws to a close, and a run like we had at the end of last season may possibly leave us with cause for celebrations, but that's maybe just wishfull speculation.