The Football Conference may have become a de facto fifth division, but relegation to it is the cruellest drop of all. Only two teams come back up each year and many of the clubs playing there were at one time in the Football League. There is even the risk of falling further, as has happened to Stockport County this year.
The Football Conference may have become a de facto fifth division, but relegation to it is the cruellest drop of all. Only two teams come back up each year and many of the clubs playing there were at one time in the Football League. There is even the risk of falling further, as has happened to Stockport County this year.
Estimates of the cost of relegation vary from £750,000 to £1 million, although a lot depends on how much gates fall. The £250,000 solidarity payment from the Premier League goes at once, as well as £200,000 for the Centre of Excellence. 50 per cent of the television rights money of £400,000 is lost. Insurance gets paid for in the League and teams even get more balls provided than in the Conference. All too often players are on Football League contracts which have another year to run.
At least relegated Barnet have the consolation of moving into a new stadium at the next season after 106 years at Underhill. They believe that they have a sustainable model at The Hive with a private gym and of the largest function spaces in North London.
The blow is bitter for Aldershot Town as it took the phoenix club 16 years to get back into the Football League. They are going to reassess their budgets and will not throw everything into coming back at the first attempt.
Relegation would have been a particular blow for the local economy in Torquay as away fans use a fixture as an excuse for a weekend break, boosting local hotels, guest houses, pubs and restaurants.