:D
big dollars in finals man.  Finals Is the Proven Method. As seen in America. Where they make big dollars. Australians are shit human beings.

Personally I think 14 in 1st div and 10 in 2nd is the minimum amount of teams you would need.

Of course a 14 (1) 1 (2) swap should occur but for the other spot you could have

13 (1) v 4 (2)
Vs
2(2) v 3 (2)

That is an extra 3 games income for FFA (under the current model).

You could also have

14 (1) swap 1 (2)
12 (1) vs 13 (1)
Vs
2 (2) vs 3 (2)

Or one of the many alternatives.

If you make
12 v 13 & 2 v 3 home and away you are up to 5 matches

Yeah huge dollars in ticket sales for a 7pm Sunday final

Gotta luv dem 3 weeks. Flashy lights and fireworks. 

Yet look at what Brighton produced on a Sunday arvo. The scenes from that game will have more hits than Sunday nights final will have viewers. Tv time bla bla

Scenes

Port Vale fan's view: You know, relegation might be a good thing for the Valiants

Steve Millward, aged 43, was born and raised in Leek. He broke the family when announcing he was a Port Vale fan in his formative years. His dad, Mick, a lifelong Stoke City fan, re-wrote his will many years ago, but Steve resisted the lure of £20 in premium bonds and a wonky sideboard to follow the Valiants.
Now living in Sandbach, he also shrugged of the attractions of Crewe Alexandra, and after years of marriage has finally persuaded wife Danielle that the future is Black and White and that her time supporting the Railwaymen was "just a phase". Steve is a scout for the Port Vale Academy, a season ticket holder in the Paddock and writes a Vale blog with his good friend Lee West.



Steve Millward with wife Danielle and family.

WHAT'S YOUR POINT?

The drop... maybe I'm going out of my mind, but I'm not convinced relegation would be such a bad thing if it happens.

Let's face it, we were fourth in League One in October 2016 (probably as close to the Championship as we're likely to be for a good while) and still had relatively low gates compared to "bigger" clubs, so Norman Smurthwaite's dream of success bringing in huge crowds was short lived.

Read more: Port Vale boss lays out brutal facts ahead of three games to decide future

Most of us are aware that drip feeding cash to gain promotion doesn't work without a huge degree of stability, team spirit and building a squad around a core of quality players. So if we can't creep our way to promotion with a clear out and some out-of-the-box thinking, we need a Plan B. Oh wait, we tried that too...
Now if relegation is the result of our 16/17 campaign, there are several factors which I feel could benefit the Vale. They are...

1) Norman's dream of selling a Championship club would be a dim and distant memory and he may decide to cut his losses when he realises the chance of recouping his Director's Loans are dwindling.

2) With the abundance of home grown quality players coming through, League Two would be a great platform to play and develop some of these lads, improving our saleable assets as well as strengthening the squad.

3) It's not a bad thing to be one of the better teams in the lower division, and following too many defeats and disappointments this season we may just come home with more than a handful of points next term.

Read more: Port Vale: Youngster Dan turns heads with his all-action display... and the boss is impressed

I've tried to avoid the words regroup, consolidate and rebuild, but that's precisely what's needed in my humble opinion – 2016/17 has been a disaster of epic proportions and maybe playing in League Two would give us the chance to believe again!

But just for now, I'm still believing we can avoid the drop. Maybe these League Two ponderings are of a man who's losing his marbles after all.

Read more: Port Vale on course for bumper crowd for key Bolton match

WHAT'S YOUR LINE-UP?

I'll go for: Fasan, Smith, Bikey, Streete, Taylor, Kiko, Eagles, De Freitas, Foley, Reeves, Turner.

WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION?

This is the most obvious bore draw ever considering that neither side seem capable of scoring at present, but I'm determined to believe we'll nick a cheeky goal from Danny Turner and hang on for a 1-0 win.

http://m.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-fan-s-view-you-know-relegation-might-be-a-good-thing-for-the-valiants/story-30283730-detail/story.html

Aussie Clarkson's holy grail to Brighton a religious experience

Playing in English football's second tier, the Seagulls were so impoverished that their players - including Australian midfielder David Clarkson - were forced to train in a derelict church, replete with smashed windows and squatters.

The seaside club, who clinched promotion to the promised land last weekend for the first time in 34 years, are now worshipping at the altar of untold riches, with their elevation to the top flight worth up to $350 million.

Clarkson, who lists his biggest career regret as rejecting a two-year contract extension with the Seagulls, knows all about the tough times at a club that 20 years ago came within a whisker of falling out of the Football League altogether.

The Tasmanian - a leading figure in his home state's bid for an A-League license - earned a princely £300-a-week ($510) during near 18-month stay; just about enough to cover the weekly hair-styling budget of a modern-day Seagulls first-teamer.

But he couldn't be happier for today's Brighton brethren as he recalls a near breadline existence at a club he grew to love and follow through its trials and tribulations down the years.

Brighton seal Premier League promotion for the first time

Brighton and Hove Albion have been promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history, after they defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 and Aaron Mooy's Huddersfield Town were held at Derby County.

"Times were so hard when I was there back in 1991 that we trained in an old church, which had the pews taken out," Clarkson recollects.

"It was our futsol centre when bad weather made training outside impossible, which was quite a lot.

"There we were...16 guys squeezed in to this tiny little church, with the broken windows allowing some fresh air to flow through.

"There were a few squatters in there who we had to kick out when we had a training session."

Things didn't get too much better at the club's home stadium - the now demolished Goldstone Ground.

"The pitch was sloped downhill and one of the terraces was in such bad despair it was closed off to supporters," added Clarkson.

Despite the humble surrounds, Clarkson still had to prove he belonged.

"There weren't many Australians playing in England back then and not only did they not rate Australians as footballers, they probably didn't even know where Australia was," he said.

"The first few months were difficult but once I gained the respect of the boys, they were really welcoming. I am still in touch with some of them."

Brighton refuse to spend big despite promotion

Brighton & Hove Albion will seek to strengthen their squad but chariman Tony Bloom says they will resist the temptation to spend large sums in the chase for Premier League glory.

So welcoming in fact, that each time Clarkson ran out onto the pitch fans sang the Neighbours theme tune, adding the lyrics "we've got our own Jason Donovan".

Clarkson was 23 when he was sold for $10,000 by former NSL side Sunshine George Cross to Brighton, for whom he ultimately made 13 appearances.

"I was in tears when I signed my contract there," he added.

"It had always been my ambition to play in England.

"I had a two-year contract extension on the table to re-sign... but I choose not to which was a big mistake, especially as there was also interest from other clubs including Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"I didn't have an agent at the time and I was a bit of a rudderless ship."

Despite the briefness of his stay, Clarkson, now 49, is fondly remembered by the Brighton faithful who were impressed by his tenacity.

"I have huge affection for the club... and I think I'm quite well respected there; the fans took to me," he said.

"I've always kept in touch with people there and (coach) Chris Hughton has done an amazing job, especially after the disappointment of losing in the playoffs last season.

"It's funny... a lot of those players who have done so incredibly well might not be there come the kick off next season," he said.

"Hughton will see them as good players for the Championship - but are they good enough for the Premier

League? Certainly not all of them, so I expect him to turn over the squad a bit and bring in some higher quality.

"The club have had their ups and downs, and a lot of downs, and where they now is just reward for what they've been through."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/04/21/aussie-clarksons-holy-grail-brighton-religious-experience

Lincoln City fan from Australia given ticket for promotion-winning match

Jordan McClaren and his father MickJordan McClaren
Jordan McClaren (right) set off from Perth, Australia, on Thursday night in order to get to the game
A Lincoln City fan who flew all the way from Australia without a ticket is celebrating after securing a last-minute pass to see his side clinch promotion.

Jordan McClaren, from Perth, was handed a ticket for the Imps' clash with Macclesfield Town by an anonymous fan.

Lincoln City won the game 2-1 to secure promotion to League Two.

Mr McClaren, 37, who was born in Lincoln, flew to the UK via Dubai and Rome to be at the match.

He said "I'm so happy to be here. I didn't have a ticket but when I arrived at the station a lovely lady handed me one of her friend's who couldn't make it. I am so thankful.

"I've followed Lincoln City all my life and I had to get over to sample the atmosphere.

"It's been a incredibly magical day that will stay with me forever. For the supporter to give up their ticket for me was just amazing, such a precious gift.

"I've got until Monday to celebrate and I plan to make the most of every hour."

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-39671778?src=rss

Robins overlook demise

If you were a Swindon fan reading the report of their 2-1 defeat by Scu.nthorpe on the club's website, you would be forgiven for not knowing what the result meant.

There was no mention that the outcome, combined with Bury's victory, sent them down from League One.

"Town suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sc.unthorpe United at The County Ground earlier this afternoon," reads the first paragraph, rather underplaying the result's significance.

The piece goes on to state that a win was needed to "keep alive their survival hopes", but you'd have thought that might have been a bit more prominent.

Mind you, they're not the first club to bury bad news this season. Here was Coventry's effort...

LOL

How often do relegated Premier League teams win automatic promotion the following season?

How the last 33 Premier League clubs have done after relegation - staggering stats.

18 hours ago by Travis Bickle

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Often, what has happened in the past can help to shed light on what is happening now.

With that in mind, I’ve done a little bit of research to find out how teams relegated from the Premier League have done in the following season. I’ve gone back to 2005-6 – so, not including this year, that’s 10 seasons.

I have an agenda in all of this. I don’t think that some of us are sufficiently appreciative of the effort that Rafa and the team have put in this year.

We are about to go into the biggest game of the year on Monday night – when a win against Preston will see us automatically promoted….and with the team standing right on the verge of that achievement, there is an undercurrent of people grumbling that – ‘well, we’re only going to finish second’, and ‘we’ve been playing rubbish football for half the season’, and ‘most of the team isn’t good enough for the Premiership’.

With some people it’s as if they just assumed that we were going to cruise through the season, slaughtering ever team that we came up against – and anything less than that was going to leave them disappointed.

So here are the facts:

Premier League relegated teams (with Championship final league positions the following season in brackets)

2005-6: 18 Birmingham (2nd), 19 West Brom (4th), 20 Sunderland (1st)

2006-7: 18 Shef Utd (9th), 19 Charlton (11th), 20 Watford (6th)

2007-8: 18 Reading (4th), 19 Birmingham (2nd), 20 Derby (18th)

2008-9: 18 Newcastle (1st), 19 Boro (11th), 20 West Brom (2nd)

2009-10: 18 Burnley (8th), 19 Hull (11th), 20 Portsmouth (16th)

2010-11: 18 Birmingham (4th), 19 Blackpool (5th), 20 West Ham (3rd)

2011-12: 18 Bolton (7th), 19 Blackburn (17th), 20 Wolves (23rd)

2012-13: 18 Wigan (5th), 19 Reading (7th), 20 QPR (4th)

2013-14: 18 Norwich (3rd), 19 Fulham (17th), 20 Cardiff (11th)

2014-15: 18 Hull (4th), 19 Burnley (1st), 20 QPR (12th)

2015-16: 18 Newcastle (2nd), 19 Norwich (8th), 20 Villa (12th) (current positions)

Number of relegated teams winning automatic promotion in the following season: 6 out of umber of relegated teams finishing in top 6 in the following season: 16 out of 30

So, the chances of bouncing straight back up automatically over the last 10 years have been 1 in 5.

The odds of finishing in the top 6 have been (more or less) evens.

The average position of a relegated team the following season is between 7th and 8th.

Interestingly enough, if you drill down into the figures a bit more, you can see that it isn’t getting any easier. The 6 teams to bounce straight back up automatically were Birmingham and Sunderland (both 2006-7), Birmingham again (2008-9), Newcastle and West Brom (2009-10), and Burnley (2015-16).

Which means that if we finish in the top 2 this season we will only be the 2nd team in the last 7 seasons to have bounced straight back automatically – Burnley last season being the only other one.

That puts the achievements of this year into perspective. There is a fairly vocal minority who apparently think that a team like Newcastle should be skating through the Championship, knocking in hatfuls of goals as they stroll back to the Premier League. And they would have you think that finishing second, with a lot of nail-biting and a load of scruffy performances, is no great achievement.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but I think those people lack a bit of perspective.  The brute facts I’ve set out above show that getting straight back out of the Championship really isn’t easy.

Most of the teams who do get automatically promoted have been building for it for a while – like Brighton this year. The teams who have just been relegated are (by definition) coming into a Championship season straight off the back of a bruising and demoralising experience. As often as not relegation has led to them losing key players.

It just isn’t easy to turn that right around. Perhaps some of us have been a little bit spoiled by the experience in 2009-10 and think that for a ‘big’ team like Newcastle to go straight back up, is nothing more than you would expect. Those of us with a few more years under our belts will remember how horrendously difficult it was for Newcastle teams to get out of the 2nd tier in the 70s and 80s and 90s.

Add to that our transfer business from the last year. Of course the myth peddled is that Newcastle spent big bucks last summer and, effectively, bought their way back up. But we all know that the club actually had a huge net £40m transfer surplus last summer.

So Rafa has taken a squad which was poor enough to get relegated last season, has seen a net outflow of £40million worth of playing assets, and in spite of that, has put together a squad which is on the verge of doing what only one other team from the last 21 teams to be relegated has managed, and gain automatic promotion the following season.

The facts don’t lie. If we finish in the top 2, regardless of how we stagger to the finish line, it will be a major achievement.
http://www.themag.co.uk/2017/04/often-relegated-premier-league-teams-win-automatic-promotion-following-season-newcastle-united/

You must work to gain promotion! We need this here yesterday.

Remember reading about clubs who were in the epl but never made it back in the 21st centurary. I think it shows how quickly and easy you can come falling down and remain trap. A good example is portsmouth who are rotting in league two and remain in obscurity. The championship is a tough league and people have to high expectations for newcastle, only big teams would smash evrey team and get promoted easily as people though newcastle would

Scenes!

Intresting
Hmm imagine supporting a team like portsmouth. Shit stadium, shit football being played, unsuccessful club
Kidding. But its true thougg

So good to see that scene
I'd be cool to see Portsmouth back in the epl

The joy of promotion to the Premier League as expressed by Geordie superfans Ant and Dec

Newcastle United are back in the Premier League, and no one is happier about it than Geordie superfans Ant and Dec.


Newcastle clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Preston, just a season after being relegated, and the double act have been sharing their pride on Twitter.


Given their footballing pedigree, the Magpies’ return to the top flight is one even the neutrals can appreciate – but for this pair up on Tyneside it’s the best news of the year.


TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been die-hard Newcastle fans since they were young.

After Rafa Benitez’s side got over the line, securing an insurmountable nine-point lead over third-placed Reading in the Championship with two games to play, it seems the Britain’s Got Talent presenters let their celebrations run a little wild…


A bigger celebration could still be to come too. Ant spoke on Talksport after the game to say it’s the Championship trophy he wants for his team now.

“I do now [want the title], let’s win it now,” he said. “Let’s try.”

Ayoze Perez
Ayoze Perez scored twice at St James’ Park (Owen Humphreys/PA)
The title might be a bit of a stretch given Brighton and Hove Albion’s four-point lead at the top means they just need to win one of their remaining two games to clinch the title – but stranger things have happened.

http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/daily/2017/04/25/news/the-joy-of-promotion-to-the-premier-league-as-expressed-by-geordie-superfans-ant-and-dec-1006785/

I used to serve these guys pints almost 20 years ago when I worked at a pub in Chiswick. The bass player from Iron Maiden used to drink there too (the West Ham supporter).

Jim Smith used to come to my hotel bar in Woodstock when he was Detby manager.

Chris Evans and Arsene Wenger drank at my pub in Ladbroke Grove on my day off.

My grandfather did, my father does, I do a bit

FFA Cup holders 6 years on the trot

Colchester United have two games to clinch a League Two play-off spot

At full pace - Colchester United's Tarique Fosu attempts to make progress in his side's game against Leyton Orient, last November
At full pace - Colchester United's Tarique Fosu attempts to make progress in his side's game against Leyton Orient, last November
At full pace - Colchester United's Tarique Fosu attempts to make progress in his side's game against Leyton Orient, last November
Nearly 900 Colchester United supporters have already snapped up tickets for their pivotal game at already-relegated Leyton Orient, this weekend.

It is a game that the U’s must realistically win, if they are to keep their League Two play-off hopes alive.

John McGreal’s side lie three points off the top-seven places, with two games remaining.

With the top three wrapped up and fourth-placed Luton Town now looking assured of their place in the play-offs, there are realistically a further nine clubs battling for the three remaining available spots as the season reaches an exciting conclusion.

The maximum number of points Colchester can now achieve is 69 and they will be confident of achieving that, given their remaining fixtures.

On Saturday, they travel to Brisbane Road to face an Orient side still reeling from their relegation to the National League.

And the following week, the U’s host Yeovil Town who are now virtually safe.

But along with winning both of their games, Colchester also have to hope that many of the teams around them drop points.

Some of their rivals are guaranteed points as they are playing each other.

On the final weekend, Exeter City host Carlisle United, Stevenage entertain Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United are at Wycombe Wanderers.

It is looking a tall order for Colchester to make the play-offs but as McGreal said last week, there promises to be further twists and turns before the season is out.

THE CONTENDERS

EXETER CITY

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 68

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +18

REMAINING GAMES: DONCASTER ROVERS (A), CARLISLE UNITED (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 74

BLACKPOOL

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 67

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +22

REMAINING GAMES: NOTTS COUNTY (A), LEYTON ORIENT (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 73 (67, +22, 73)

STEVENAGE

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 66

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +7

REMAINING GAMES: YEOVIL TOWN (A), ACCRINGTON STANLEY (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 72

MANSFIELD TOWN

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 65

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +5

REMAINING GAMES: PORTSMOUTH (H), CRAWLEY TOWN (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 71

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 65

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +4

REMAINING GAMES: MORECAMBE (A), CAMBRIDGE UNITED (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 71 (65, +4, 71)

CARLISLE UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 64

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: -1

REMAINING GAMES: NEWPORT (H), EXETER CITY (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 70

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 63

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +7

REMAINING GAMES: CRAWLEY TOWN (H), WYCOMBE (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVABLE: 69

COLCHESTER UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 63

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +6

REMAINING GAMES: LEYTON ORIENT (A), YEOVIL TOWN (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 69

ACCRINGTON STANLEY

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 62

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +3

REMAINING GAMES: LUTON TOWN (H), STEVENAGE (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 68

http://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/sport/county/15246606.More_twists_and_turns_expected_in_League_Two_play_off_race/

USL Begins Expansion into a new 3rd Division with new website and video

by Richard DeLaurell12 hours ago

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The USL yesterday made public announcement of the league’s new 3rd division on its YouTube channel; D3 is to begin play with the 2019 season.

The USL raised the stakes on the future of US Soccer Tuesday, especially NASL. The league released a video promo for its planned expansion into a third division in just over 18 months time.

Note the emphasis in the video on “professionalism” and “finances”. Also the absence of NASL from their idealized model of the US men’s soccer pyramid.

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It’s a promo after all.

Website Goes Live Too

More hype, less music. The league launched the future division’s new website as well.

US Soccer’s Got A Brand New Pyramid

The third division would bring a lot of spice to USL, both now and in the future, but that may not be all to the good.

While MLS has bought into the USL model for now by mixing its development teams into the USL conference structure, D3 brings the prospect of relegation into the picture.

Relegation and the “apertura-clausura” seasonal competition style of NASL are missing from MLS as it stands right now. The seasonal tournaments are massive in Central and South America, while relegation is a worldwide staple of the game, and seen as a missing element in the States.

If USL becomes dynamic enough to have a local footprint, while also appealing to how the global game is managed, would there be a day where the MLS finds itself on the outside looking in?  USL boasts quite a few foreign-born players already, and growing every year.

“SoccerWarz” Scenario?

All of which might jeopardize MLS’ participation and support of the USL as no longer being in the top-flight league’s best interests.

Author Kartik Krishnaiyer discussed the current fluctuations in the US “men’s soccer pyramid” in his book, SoccerWarz, published last summer (2016).

Similarly, a couple of MLSMultiplex contributors, including myself, have sounded off previously on the relative merits of a D3.

NEXT: What USL D3 Might Mean For NASL

NEXT: 3 Reasons USL D3 Is A Bad Idea

D3 is still a year and a half away, and promotion / relegation between the two divisions even further down the road. But it does seem that a working system with north of 30 clubs (without MLS support) is entirely possible at that point. How would US soccer fans react to the two contrasting approaches? Love it or hate it, USLD3 seems like it’s pretty much a done deal.

https://mlsmultiplex.com/2017/04/26/usl-d3-begins-rollout/

Yeah, we need this shit

Relegation and promotion to continue in English rugby

Bristol won promotion from the Championship last season
Promotion and relegation between the top tiers of English rugby will continue for the foreseeable future, the head of Premiership Rugby says.

There were discussions in 2015 over creating a ring-fenced 14-team league, but this plan has now been shelved.

“What is most important for us is the energy within the league,” Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty told BBC 5 live.

“For the next few years, within our current agreement, that is the case.”

Bristol’s relegation to the Championship next season has already been confirmed, although they will be given a reprieve if either Ealing or Doncaster win promotion.

“Bristol is a big city, a big rugby club with lots of heritage, and they are investing for the long-term,” McCafferty added.

“So I don’t think it will be very long before we see them back in the Premiership.

“But we have to be very careful we do generate [that energy], and there are examples of leagues around the world in rugby where there isn’t relegation, and it can become a little bit predictable at the bottom end of the table.

“No relegation wouldn’t have seen growth of the likes of Exeter particularly and Worcester as well. So we have to try and strike that balance.”

Exeter Chiefs have thrived since winning promotion in 2010
Meanwhile London Irish and Yorkshire Carnegie have met the Minimum Standards Criteria and will go up to the Premiership if they win the Championship play-offs.

However, with only two clubs in the second-tier capable of promotion, McCafferty acknowledges the need to grow the Championship on and off the field.

“I think the gap is getting bigger commercially. On the field there is probably not as big a gap as there is off the field,” he added.

“Finding the right structure for the Championship is quite important, and we have to work with the RFU and the Championship on that.

“We can’t ignore that level of the professional sport, because it is very important within the whole system.”

http://www.sportal.co.in/rugby/relegation-and-promotion-to-continue-in-english-rugby/

Never let this thread end <3

#vision

It doesn't have to be about trophies

Tiny club, Burton Albion are now celebrating just surviving a season in the English Championship

Here's last years promotion pitch invasion

Check out the Ref organising his escape plan.  Usain Bolt would be proud.