Quote Originally Posted by Baloo View Post
I took the word underclass directly from one of your previous posts.

Quote Originally Posted by logic View Post
I haven't said that. Maybe there's an opportunity for Cheltenham and Gloucester to merge, who knows. You seem to be happy with an underclass of teams who will never progress, maybe bounce around non-league/league two at best, maybe get a lucrative cup tie and that's about it.

I watch dozens of non-league games each year. I think you underestimate the experience of their fans who follow their teams at great expense in lieu of watching bigger and more successful neighbours. They hope for progress of course but by definition it's not the be-all and end-all for them.

I understand the financial viability issues and don't know the answer to that tbh - but I just hope it doesn't involve obliterating half of them, or creating new hybrid clubs that disenfranchise the current fans in search of a broader, more fickle audience.
My bad.

At any level below Prem, there are X teams chasing the same pot of local money. It's either cut your cloth to what you have - which generally means staying same level - or spending more than you have.

I just think that, particularly at lower levels, there are a number of clubs that if merged, could create something great than the sum of their parts. The root problem, too many pro teams, has to be addressed.