Step 6 Re-Structure 19/20

[Nick Pope]

A lot has been discussed regarding Step 7 re-structure but not much regarding Step 6.

Possible SWPL East & West Premier Divisions could comprise of (as per SWPL Forum):

East (20):

Cullompton, Elburton, Exmouth, Ivybridge, Argyle, Tavistock, Holsworthy, Marjon, Axminster, Bovey Tracey, Crediton, Elmore, Ilfracombe, Newton Abbot, Simouth, Alphington, Brixham, Honiton, St Martins, Stoke Gabriel - (others clubs outside SWPL have applied in waiting)

West (20):

Saltash, St Austell, Bodmin, Falmouth, Torpoint, Millbrook, Helston, Newquay, Godolphin, Callington, Launceston, Camelford, Sticker, Liskeard, Porthleven, Wadebridge, Mousehole, St Dennis, Wendron, Penzance, St Blazey, Dobwalls (2 from list will be placed in new Step 7 St Piran League)

⚽⚽⚽

For Villa (probably only our manager who was ever involved in the old Devon County League) it will be a very different experience when this restructure happens and the divisions are split in this fassion. Looking to have lots of contact with Cornish clubs via pre-season or league cup competitions but will be weired not having to cross the Tamar as much (some clubs may appreciate that 😂)!!!

⚽⚽⚽

 

 

[baldy]

Lots of people playing that game. Let's hope there are enough Devon clubs that meet the required ground standard.

[The Town Man]

Has to be said that this move will only dilute the quality of the resulting two step 6 leagues. The likes of St Blazey unfortunately struggling in their step 7 league at the moment.  However, for supporters most if not all games will be practical to attend.

We will only gain upward mobility for the better Cornish clubs when the FA decide to follow the RFU and subsidise some of the travelling costs, to enable the better Cornish clubs to progress up the leagues.

(Cue comments about spending too much money on player expenses but the reality is that if you reduce their money, they will probably go elsewhere and the club would struggle in the higher leagues)

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

41 minutes ago, The Town Man said:

Has to be said that this move will only dilute the quality of the resulting two step 6 leagues. The likes of St Blazey unfortunately struggling in their step 7 league at the moment.  However, for supporters most if not all games will be practical to attend.

We will only gain upward mobility for the better Cornish clubs when the FA decide to follow the RFU and subsidise some of the travelling costs, to enable the better Cornish clubs to progress up the leagues.

(Cue comments about spending too much money on player expenses but the reality is that if you reduce their money, they will probably go elsewhere and the club would struggle in the higher leagues)

When Penryn RFC  were in the highest league they used to get £8K from the RFU to help with travelling expenses. 

Says it all really.

[BIG AL]

6 hours ago, Keith B said:

Effectively splits Devon from Cornwall. Responses should be interesting. I guess some will be for and some against.

The sooner the split from Devon the better !

[Nick Pope]

With these changes the funding opportunities through the Football Foundation increases for new clubs entering the pyramid system and also clubs gaining automatic promotion to a higher level:

Step 6 = claim back 70% of £100,000.00

Step 7 = claim back 70% of £20,000.00

(figures may be wrong but can claim within every 5 years for different ground or equipment improvements)

Improving facilities is something any club in the pyramid system must consider due to FA Ground Grades and the funding is a great incentive to do so.

Would FA help with travel at step 5? Would be a great help if that happened!

[hedgerow]

I see Ivybridge is missing off the list

1 hour ago, BIG AL said:

The sooner the split from Devon the better !

You’ll miss the Devon Clubs, but I am quite confident they will not miss you 😂

In 10 years time the FA will come up with a brilliant idea to merge Devon & Cornwall Leagues, and at the same time CCFA & DCFA will merge, thus saving money. 

Now that would be an interesting discussion on this forum. 

[baldy]

7 minutes ago, hedgerow said:

I see Ivybridge is missing off the list

 

Look again

[hedgerow]

2 hours ago, baldy said:

Look again

I got my glasses out of retirement. Thank you 

[Nick Pope]

4 hours ago, BIG AL said:

The sooner the split from Devon the better !

Don't worry BIG AL, the league secretary will still be Devon biased, I mean based 😂

[100%cornish]

it will be a shame not being able to see teams like Exmouth and Plymouth Argyle RES next season its nice watching entertaining football ,but hopefully the likes of Mousehole will be in the new league they are 1 of the best sides i have seen they have lost Steven Ziboth gone to Truro Adel Gafait to Yeovil but they still have Paolo Sousa and William Vouama i hope ,also hope St Blazey will be in the new league miss going to there ground nice people down there always feel welcome there and also at St Austell never feel welcome at Bodmin shame to see them struggling but they will come good again beacause Darren Gilbert isnt everybodys cup of tea but hes a bloody good manager hoping to be down there in hte summer when no doubt Neil Warnock will be bringing his Cardiff team to Bodmin for there usual pr season friendly .

[BIG AL]

1 hour ago, Nick Pope said:

Don't worry BIG AL, the league secretary will still be Devon biased, I mean based 😂

 Biased is the correct word!

4 hours ago, hedgerow said:

I see Ivybridge is missing off the list

You’ll miss the Devon Clubs, but I am quite confident they will not miss you 😂

In 10 years time the FA will come up with a brilliant idea to merge Devon & Cornwall Leagues, and at the same time CCFA & DCFA will merge, thus saving money. 

Now that would be an interesting discussion on this forum. 

Impossible to miss the Devon clubs, who wants to travel to Devon to watch an unskilled game of football.

[Rob1978]

Step 5 guarentees fa cup football which is a lot more lucrative now. Parkway earned a lot of money from it this season. Could this not persuade some to take the plunge? 

7 hours ago, The Town Man said:

Has to be said that this move will only dilute the quality of the resulting two step 6 leagues. The likes of St Blazey unfortunately struggling in their step 7 league at the moment.  However, for supporters most if not all games will be practical to attend.

We will only gain upward mobility for the better Cornish clubs when the FA decide to follow the RFU and subsidise some of the travelling costs, to enable the better Cornish clubs to progress up the leagues.

(Cue comments about spending too much money on player expenses but the reality is that if you reduce their money, they will probably go elsewhere and the club would struggle in the higher leagues)

Yes players would possibly go elsewhere but you could sell yourself as a stepping stone for ambitious youngsters. Some players will take a pay cut to play at a higher level. If you don’t go forward, you will go backwards - St Blazey, Bodmin. Bodmin could have taken promotion and used their playing budget on a secondhand minibus and played talented youngsters from the town in the western league. They would have got bigger crowds for a start. Yes they might have struggled but now we will never know. Surviving in a higher league is much better than winning a lower league all the time. Local people have never supported a team of Plymouth imports, which is why the club is so badly supported. Young local lads would have played for the jersey and viewed Western league as an adventure. What’s the worst that can happen? You get relegated to step 6 again. Yes the Fa could help more, but the truth is that across the country many step 5 clubs have no playing budget. Cornish clubs have their priorities all wrong. A step 5 Cornish club may loose a load of players to a step 6 rival unburdened by travelling costs, but it would still be the superior club playing at a higher level. Look at Bodmin/St Blazey now. You can’t just keep winning at the same level. Not sure what it is people don’t understand??

[hedgerow]

45 minutes ago, BIG AL said:

 Biased is the correct word!

Impossible to miss the Devon clubs, who wants to travel to Devon to watch an unskilled game of football.

 

Just like your unskilled comments 😂

[BIG AL]

20 minutes ago, hedgerow said:

 

Just like your unskilled comments 😂

My opinion, object as much as you like !

[hedgerow]

Not objecting, but like you, just giving an opinion. 

[BIG AL]

10 hours ago, hedgerow said:

Not objecting, but like you, just giving an opinion. 

But at least I am not insulting you!

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

13 hours ago, BIG AL said:

 Biased is the correct word!

Impossible to miss the Devon clubs, who wants to travel to Devon to watch an unskilled game of football.

You don't travel to Bickland and you live in the town...lol

[We Two]

19 hours ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said:

Cue comments about spending too much money on player expenses but the reality is that if you reduce their money, they will probably go elsewhere and the club would struggle in the higher leagues)

No problem with paying what you can afford, the problem arises when the money going out of a club exceeds the money coming in, often at the expense of the detoriation of the clubs infrastructure and maintenance. 
When that happens, the eventual outcome will be the exodus of so called higher level players, and a club left struggling to survive financially.
If club officials feel that is worth doing, don't be suprised or expect sympathy when you end up in a league below ex duchy league sides.
Sorry if that is seen to be harsh, but time has proved it to be a fact.
If certain players want to go elsewhere, let them go and start to build from the bottom if necessary. 
A good sustainable foundation is neccessary in all walks of life if success is to be achieved, to use an analogy, who would buy a house if its support was supceptible to being removed ?
Yet paying beyond a sustainable amount is considered worthwhile for short term success.    Sorry, don't understand that thinking at all.
 

[Fanfare]

13 hours ago, Rob1978 said:

Step 5 guarentees fa cup football which is a lot more lucrative now. Parkway earned a lot of money from it this season. Could this not persuade some to take the plunge? 

Yes players would possibly go elsewhere but you could sell yourself as a stepping stone for ambitious youngsters. Some players will take a pay cut to play at a higher level. If you don’t go forward, you will go backwards - St Blazey, Bodmin. Bodmin could have taken promotion and used their playing budget on a secondhand minibus and played talented youngsters from the town in the western league. They would have got bigger crowds for a start. Yes they might have struggled but now we will never know. Surviving in a higher league is much better than winning a lower league all the time. Local people have never supported a team of Plymouth imports, which is why the club is so badly supported. Young local lads would have played for the jersey and viewed Western league as an adventure. What’s the worst that can happen? You get relegated to step 6 again. Yes the Fa could help more, but the truth is that across the country many step 5 clubs have no playing budget. Cornish clubs have their priorities all wrong. A step 5 Cornish club may loose a load of players to a step 6 rival unburdened by travelling costs, but it would still be the superior club playing at a higher level. Look at Bodmin/St Blazey now. You can’t just keep winning at the same level. Not sure what it is people don’t understand??

They did in Falmouth for many years. And got a lot of success from it, even if it did cost a lot.

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

3 minutes ago, Fanfare said:

They did in Falmouth for many years. And got a lot of success from it, even if it did cost a lot.

It may have cost them Bickland yet(?)

17 minutes ago, We Two said:

No problem with paying what you can afford, the problem arises when the money going out of a club exceeds the money coming in, often at the expense of the detoriation of the clubs infrastructure and maintenance. 
When that happens, the eventual outcome will be the exodus of so called higher level players, and a club left struggling to survive financially.
If club officials feel that is worth doing, don't be suprised or expect sympathy when you end up in a league below ex duchy league sides.
Sorry if that is seen to be harsh, but time has proved it to be a fact.
If certain players want to go elsewhere, let them go and start to build from the bottom if necessary. 
A good sustainable foundation is neccessary in all walks of life if success is to be achieved, to use an analogy, who would buy a house if its support was supceptible to being removed ?
Yet paying beyond a sustainable amount is considered worthwhile for short term success.    Sorry, don't understand that thinking at all.
 

I never said that!

[We Two]

1 hour ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said:

I never said that!

Our remarks were intended for the clubs who pay unsustainable money to players who leave as soon as the money runs out leaving them in the financial doldrums. 
Never worth it if you have your clubs interests at heart, and don't want the opposition laughing at your downfall.
 

[Bruegel the Elder]

We Two are the quintessential harbingers of doom, and indeed gloom. This unpleasant disposition does however reflect the state of some of our senior clubs. As income (from sponsorship or wherever) falls and the clubs pay out inducements they can ill afford, money is sucked out from other sections of the club, the clubhouse goes undecorated, the bar/cleaning staff cut or underpaid, heating rationed and members facilities removed without notice or consultation. Formerly loyal users become disillusioned and vote with their feet cutting income even further. The chase for success sends clubs spiralling downwards. I’ve seen it in other parts of the country and there are signs that it could happen here if management committees take their eye off the ball!

Gosh what a miserable post, I really have been reading too many of We Twos offerings, he/she/they should come with a (mental) health warning!

[We Two]

7 minutes ago, Bruegel the Elder said:

We Two are the quintessential harbingers of doom, and indeed gloom. This unpleasant disposition does however reflect the state of some of our senior clubs. As income (from sponsorship or wherever) falls and the clubs pay out inducements they can ill afford, money is sucked out from other sections of the club, the clubhouse goes undecorated, the bar/cleaning staff cut or underpaid, heating rationed and members facilities removed without notice or consultation. Formerly loyal users become disillusioned and vote with their feet cutting income even further. The chase for success sends clubs spiralling downwards. I’ve seen it in other parts of the country and there are signs that it could happen here if management committees take their eye off the ball!

Gosh what a miserable post, I really have been reading too many of We Twos offerings, he/she/they should come with a (mental) health warning!

Facing facts rather than burying your head in the sand and pretending it isn't happening is not a good option Brugel, call us what you like, but be constructive if you dispute the claims made.
Nevertheless you appear to agree with the sentiments expressed so you just might be suffering the same unpleasant disposition as us having repeated the points we made .
Doom and gloom is not something that we invented! the trick is to recognise the symptoms if they exist at the club you support
Do or say nothing and the problem will go away, won't be in anyones interests that attitude has a habit of kicking you in the bum.

[Martin Cook]

So from the Devon side of things,we will miss the trips to Cornwall .  It  will however will be better if clubs have to take promotion, as the league is a suppose to be part of  a pyramid . I`m not sure the standard of the new leagues, will be as good as it is now, only time will tell.

The one thing I wont miss, is the impact of the Cornish Cup on League fixtures which can be ridiculous, due to it being a Saturday only Competition. 

Look on the bright side if Cornwall gets Independence ,you may get a team in the Champions League, Or would  it cost too much to travel ? 

 

 

 

 

[rocky170267]

21 hours ago, Rob1978 said:

Step 5 guarentees fa cup football which is a lot more lucrative now. Parkway earned a lot of money from it this season. Could this not persuade some to take the plunge? 

Yes players would possibly go elsewhere but you could sell yourself as a stepping stone for ambitious youngsters. Some players will take a pay cut to play at a higher level. If you don’t go forward, you will go backwards - St Blazey, Bodmin. Bodmin could have taken promotion and used their playing budget on a secondhand minibus and played talented youngsters from the town in the western league. They would have got bigger crowds for a start. Yes they might have struggled but now we will never know. Surviving in a higher league is much better than winning a lower league all the time. Local people have never supported a team of Plymouth imports, which is why the club is so badly supported. Young local lads would have played for the jersey and viewed Western league as an adventure. What’s the worst that can happen? You get relegated to step 6 again. Yes the Fa could help more, but the truth is that across the country many step 5 clubs have no playing budget. Cornish clubs have their priorities all wrong. A step 5 Cornish club may loose a load of players to a step 6 rival unburdened by travelling costs, but it would still be the superior club playing at a higher level. Look at Bodmin/St Blazey now. You can’t just keep winning at the same level. Not sure what it is people don’t understand??

“Bigger crowds”

I don’t think so. Plymouth Parkway used to get more supporters through the gates then Saint Austell at one point but they certainly don’t now.

Take away all the big local derbies and you’ll find the average crowd will drop

[Rob1978]

The comment on crowds was directed at Bodmin who get pitiful crowds and no real backing from the town. If they played a team of local youngsters they would get more locals watching them, even if it was just parents of players. Parkways crowds have remained the same despite the lack of derbies. This is because crowd figures are more consistent 

[Dave Deacon]

Parkway's league average attendance this season so far : 162

Last season : 219

[Rob1978]

52 minutes ago, Dave Deacon said:

Parkway's league average attendance this season so far : 162

Last season : 219

Last seasons average was inflated by the 700+ at the Tavi game. In previous years the club has averaged around 170. Bodmin get poor crowds even for derby games, they got less against Camelford than they did against Parkway/Argyle. They would get more people turn up if they played local players, whatever league they are in!  All this talk about Cornish clubs getting more derbies and therefore bigger crowds next season doesn’t apply to everyone anyway. What about Saltash, Torpoint, Callington and Millbrook? They will actually loose derby matches against Tavi, Ivybridge, Elburton and Argyle. In fact the game against Argyle tends to be most clubs biggest non Boxing Day crowd. The league split will benefit Devonian clubs, but Cornish clubs could end up being cut off. 

[leedsunited]

Flattered by everyone's obsession with Bodmin 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Elephant]

12 hours ago, rocky170267 said:

“Bigger crowds”

I don’t think so. Plymouth Parkway used to get more supporters through the gates then Saint Austell at one point but they certainly don’t now.

Take away all the big local derbies and you’ll find the average crowd will drop

Rocky slagging off Parkway again? No way! A little birdy told me you used to regularly attend Parkway games, and were even apart of the supporters club.....what happened? Jealousy is a sin dear Rocky, and you should just take a moment to chill and realise, Parkway are better than any two bit cornish club 😉😉

Elephant out 🐘🐘

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

2 hours ago, leedsunited said:

Flattered by everyone's obsession with Bodmin 🤣🤣🤣

 

Human nature Leeds, everyone loves a gobshite knocked of its perch.

Fish and chips papers,  the wheel keeps turning.

[We Two]

2 hours ago, leedsunited said:

Flattered by everyone's obsession with Bodmin 🤣🤣🤣

Don't flatter yourself Leeds, people remember the flack you have dealt out to their clubs, now they see their payback time coming on fast.
Most posts mentioning Bodmin hold them up as an example of how not to run a club, not very flattering really.

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

31 minutes ago, Keith B said:

Mmmm - ''two bit Cornish club'' is going a bit too far Elephant - careful now.

He's an endangered species, won't be around for long.

[leedsunited]

Said it time & time again, all in the same boat, St.Austell, Bodmin, Falmouth, Newquay, unless you win anything ( Tavistock will win the league ) then the season is a failure ? Luckily for Bodmin continued success in recent times does stand them apart slightly from the rest, but again unless finish top of the pile everyone is in the same boat ..... 

 

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

1 hour ago, leedsunited said:

Said it time & time again, all in the same boat, St.Austell, Bodmin, Falmouth, Newquay, unless you win anything ( Tavistock will win the league ) then the season is a failure ? Luckily for Bodmin continued success in recent times does stand them apart slightly from the rest, but again unless finish top of the pile everyone is in the same boat ..... 

 

Success can be measured in many ways.

Ludgvan surviving this season ...success?

Not just winning something...anything ...over and over again. 

[Adlestrop]

And sinking !

[sportsman10]

Would say parkway crowds have dropped more to do with price of going then anything else. Higher league. Ground improvement and player wages mean increased costs. 

Have to say the atmosphere around parkway does tend be a bit flat now in this new league no real games to get excited about. Where as when the likes of saltash , tavi or Bodmin would visit it would be a great crowd and atmosphere and battle. . 

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

2 minutes ago, sportsman10 said:

Would say parkway crowds have dropped more to do with price of going then anything else. Higher league. Ground improvement and player wages mean increased costs. 

Have to say the atmosphere around parkway does tend be a bit flat now in this new league no real games to get excited about. Where as when the likes of saltash , tavi or Bodmin would visit it would be a great crowd and atmosphere and battle. . 

And there are 2 "two bit" Cornish clubs being missed already.

C'mon Nellie the elephant...Where are ya!

[SCFC]

4 hours ago, leedsunited said:

Said it time & time again, all in the same boat, St.Austell, Bodmin, Falmouth, Newquay, unless you win anything ( Tavistock will win the league ) then the season is a failure ? Luckily for Bodmin continued success in recent times does stand them apart slightly from the rest, but again unless finish top of the pile everyone is in the same boat ..... 

 

Not sure its to do with winning anything, i believe the comments are more aimed your way as Bodmin were once top of the pile, year in year out, and are now below Millbrook in the league (a club who have comeback from the brink so hats off to them). Similar to the flack Man United have had in recent times. Bodmin will come again as they usually do👍

[Fanfare]

8 hours ago, Elephant said:

Rocky slagging off Parkway again? No way! A little birdy told me you used to regularly attend Parkway games, and were even apart of the supporters club.....what happened? Jealousy is a sin dear Rocky, and you should just take a moment to chill and realise, Parkway are better than any two bit cornish club 😉😉

Elephant out 🐘🐘

Didn't the manager say something similar before they stumbled at St Austell in the Vase?! 😂

[gingerninja]

2 hours ago, sportsman10 said:

Would say parkway crowds have dropped more to do with price of going then anything else. Higher league. Ground improvement and player wages mean increased costs. 

Have to say the atmosphere around parkway does tend be a bit flat now in this new league no real games to get excited about. Where as when the likes of saltash , tavi or Bodmin would visit it would be a great crowd and atmosphere and battle. . 

I don't think an extra pound per game can be putting people off surely? For a tenner you can still get in, have a pasty (one for you Bald One and Older), and a hot brew. Not bad given the quality has improved week in week out (not a disrespect to SWPL sides, I'd still say around 6/7 would comfortably be in a similar place to Parkway in the league, there's just not the strength in depth like there is in the Western League) 

2 hours ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said:

And there are 2 "two bit" Cornish clubs being missed already.

C'mon Nellie the elephant...Where are ya!

Think he's said goodbye to the circus! 

[Rob1978]

4 hours ago, sportsman10 said:

Would say parkway crowds have dropped more to do with price of going then anything else. Higher league. Ground improvement and player wages mean increased costs. 

Have to say the atmosphere around parkway does tend be a bit flat now in this new league no real games to get excited about. Where as when the likes of saltash , tavi or Bodmin would visit it would be a great crowd and atmosphere and battle. . 

Hopefully Parkway will have the derby with Tavi again next season. As for games against Saltash and Bodmin, these would have been lost anyway due to league split. There is obviously less local interest in Western league but if the aim is to be a senior non league competing against the likes Tiverton, Taunton and Truro, then it is a league that you have to play in first, and earn the right to play at a higher level. Parkway still have home matches against Willand and Buckland to look forward to as well. It’s also nice to play in a league where there isn’t a prejudice against a club for being based in a big city! Yes we miss the derby games, but the time was right for the club to move on and create new rivalries.

[rocky170267]

10 hours ago, Elephant said:

Rocky slagging off Parkway again? No way! A little birdy told me you used to regularly attend Parkway games, and were even apart of the supporters club.....what happened? Jealousy is a sin dear Rocky, and you should just take a moment to chill and realise, Parkway are better than any two bit cornish club 😉😉

Elephant out 🐘🐘

Elephant what a  very large trunk you have! I was merely pointing out that your not necessarily going to  have bigger crowds if you play at a higher level. I don’t think I was slagging off Parkway in any way shape or form and for your information I still am a regular supporter. (6 home 1 away)

But I will add that I do miss watching the big local derbies in this area

[Rob1978]

Just to clarify, I never claimed that Bodmin would get bigger crowds playing at a higher level, but that they would do so by playing local players, which would also have negated the cost of playing at a higher level. I think a club would have to get to at least Southern premier/national south, before it would see any real attendance increase. 

[Ian Pethick]

15 hours ago, Rob1978 said:

Hopefully Parkway will have the derby with Tavi again next season. As for games against Saltash and Bodmin, these would have been lost anyway due to league split. There is obviously less local interest in Western league but if the aim is to be a senior non league competing against the likes Tiverton, Taunton and Truro, then it is a league that you have to play in first, and earn the right to play at a higher level. Parkway still have home matches against Willand and Buckland to look forward to as well. It’s also nice to play in a league where there isn’t a prejudice against a club for being based in a big city! Yes we miss the derby games, but the time was right for the club to move on and create new rivalries.

The crowds were always going to be down slightly  due to the loss of the big local games against the likes of Tavi and Saltash, this was no doubt factored in by the people behind the scenes. The chairman knows that the club has to develop additional revenue streams to compensate for this, the re-development of the clubhouse ,and the extra facilities that this will bring, will go a big way to addressing this. Regarding the atmosphere being a bit flat at Bolitho, just as with the players and management, this is also a bedding in season for the supporters. New clubs being played mean that new (friendly) rivalries will need to be developed. Don't forget that Parkway were relative new boys on the SWL scene, and it took a while for them to be seen as rivals to the long established Cornish clubs and all this brought both on and off the pitch. Also, Parkway have attracted a lot of new supporters over the last year or so. They may be completely new to the local football scene, so need to acclimatise and form their own knowledge and habits.  

[Hetty]

I don’t see what difference the re-structure will make for the Cornish clubs if I’m honest. They lose 6 Fixtures in Cullompton, Plymouth Argyle, Exmouth, and in the Plymouth area Tavistock, Ivybridge and Elburton.  The season doesn’t consist of over regular trips to Devon now anyway. Cullompton, Exmouth and Argyle are the only 3 games you must really go past Plymouth for.  Plus, I’m led to believe the league cup will not be regionalised therefore trips to Devon can come from that.

When you consider the teams that could replace the Devon clubs such as Mousehole, Liskeard, Porthleven, Wadebridge, Penzance and St Blazey – old rivalries will resume, and new ones could form.

It will be the Devon clubs that experience the largest change in my opinion. I don’t think the new league will have a negative impact on crowds, and if it does encourage teams to take the leap into the western league then so be it.

The debate about parkways crowds will be irrelevant if some of the teams around them geographically like Tavistock and Saltash took the plunge. Suddenly you have local derby’s back with even more at stake.