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WHO' S GOING UP OR DOWN?

December 20 2001

Editor's Steve Whitney's weekly round up from the world of Non-League Football

With most leagues having now reached the half-way stage of the season, it's a good opportunity to have a look at who seems likely to go up or down, starting with the Conference and its three Premier Division feeders.

Of course, no league is won after 20-odd matches, but it does give us a clearer picture than pre-season when most pundits, myself incuded, are merely guessing when it comes to making predictions.

The race for the 'coveted' place in the Nationwide League Third Division looks almost to be down already to a two-horse race between Boston United and Dagenham & Redbridge, although I am sure that Barnet fans would disagree!

Boston have done superbly well to maintain their lofty position given their off-the-field problems in losing their long-time benefactor Pat Malkinson and suffering from some financial difficulties. Whether these problems will come home to roost later on in the campaign remains to be seen, especially when manager Steve Evans wants to strengthen his squad for the run-in.

The Daggers' season has already been tremendous, and those who saw them completely dominate their FA Cup replay against Exeter live on Sky would probably agree that they possess perhaps the strongest squad in the Conference at the moment.

However, I still see the title race going to the wire, but if I have to stick my neck out, I would have to go with Dagenham & Redbridge to come out on top - but it will be tight.

At the other end of the Conference table we could be heading for a history-making season. We could see the first club relegated into the Conference to suffer the drop into the feeder leagues.

Scarborough, Chester City and even Hereford United, are the teams in danger of creating this little piece of football history.

Scarborough and Chester would appear to be in the most danger and much will depend on how both will gel once their new bosses have finished re-building their teams. Both Russell Slade and Steve Mungall have made numerous changes but at any level of football, once a losing trot is in, it is awfully difficult to get out of it, and either or both Scarborough and Chester will do well to avoid finishing in the bottom three.

It seemed as if Dover Athletic were certainties to be relegated a few weeks back, and they still might be. But the arrival of Neville Southall as manager will galvanise them, at least to begin with, and any run they can put together now will be welcome and bad news for those directly above them in the table.

It seemed a strange appointment at first glance. No real managerial experience and miles from home. Is Southall going to move to Kent and leave his beloved north-west, or is he going to leave the day-today running of the club to Bill Williams and Clive Walker? Time will tell if new Dover chairman Gordon Cowan has made the right move.

If it's not going to be Chester, Scarborough and Dover occupying the bottom three places, who else is in danger? Cash-strapped Leigh RMI and Stalybridge Celtic immediately spring to mind. Woking look to have too much class to become embroiled in a relegation battle and Hayes, who seem to be everyone's favourites for the drop each season, keep picking up points when you least expect it.

Quite who joins the Conference 'big boys' from the Dr Martens League is anyone's guess at the moment. Any one of at least ten clubs are in with a realistc chance looking at the table at the moment, although the more 'experienced' Kettering Town squad should be made favourites I suppose.

However, apart from my former club, Crawley Town, Tamworth and Havant & Waterlooville would be my main contenders.

Billy Smith has built a very useful squad at Crawley but quite whether he has the strength in depth is in doubt. Tamworth have one of the brightest young managers in non-League football in Gary Mills and he's done a superb job at every club he's been with to date. Don't write the Lambs off.

Havant & Waterlooville suffered a blip in form which saw them lose in the cups and drop a few league points all at the same time, but Liam Daish and Mick Jenkins have since added the experienced Alan Knight in goal and, most recently, ex-Chelsea defender David Lee to their ranks, and now possess a really powerful squad.

Moor Green, with the long-serving and much-respected Bob Faulkner in charge, have surprised many by staying the pace to date and have earned praise for their style of play everywhere they have been so far, but perhaps won't challenge the 'bigger' clubs when it comes toi the crunch.

If Weymouth hadn't have dumped Fred Davies in such controversial style, I would have thought that they would be serious challengers to regain the Conference place they relinquished way back in 1989. But results have suggested that the internal traumas have affected the players and manager Andy Mason.

At the other end of the table, sorry Salisbury City fans, but it looks all over in the Premier Division for you already. I think even Whites' fans would agree though.

Merthyr Tydfil and Newport Isle of Wight have, of course, both appointed new managers so it is hard to predict how things will go in either camp as yet, but both Leroy Rosenoir and Guy Whittingham need points urgently.
Hednesford Town have picked up a bit since Kenny Hibbitt arrived, and I would suggest that they have too good a squad to suffer a second successive relegation (but where have I heard that one before!!?). Cambridge City are another under new management, whilst it is a little surprising to see Welling United down amongst the strugglers, whilst Gary Abbott hasn't really fired yet.

One side that needs to address a recent slide very quickly is Stafford Rangers, who have dropped down the table like a stone in recent weeks.

In Essex nobody would suggest that anyone other than Canvey Island are going to win the Ryman League championship, and to be fair, it's hard to disagree.

Jeff King has developed a squad at Park Lane that is packed with experienced ex-pros who have been there, done it and have a good few tee-shirts into the bargain.

Squad depth is often the key to success, and King has that in abundance at Canvey. Will their cup run and attempt to retain the FA Umbro Trophy get in the way, much as it did last season? I doubt it this time.

If it isn't going to be Canvey then Gravesend & Northfleet and Aldershot Town will be snapping at their heels. Andy Ford has done a terrific job at Gravesend. Quietly and effeciently, Ford has put together a team without 'star' names that all work for each other. Again, much will depend on injuries and suspensions as to whether the Fleet can maintain their lofty position.

Aldershot appear to be the club that all others in the league love to hate. Jealousy is the major reason, I would assume. Jealous of the tremendous support the Shots generate and jealous of the squad available to manager George Borg. They are still a bit inconsistent, especially away from home, but they will be there or thereabouts at the end.

At the bottom Harrow Borough, Hitchin Town, Bedford Town, Croydon and Enfield look to be the ones who are going to be fighting it out.

Purely for nostalgic reasons, I hope Bedford survive. They have worked tremendously hard to regain the standard they were at when the old club disappeared, and if they can surivive this season, then with their tremendous support and potential, the Eagles could once again become a force in non-League football.

I suppose most people would have had Burton Albion down as potentia champions of the UniBond League as soon as it was announced that they had shifted across the Pyramid, and to date nothing has happened to change that opinion.

Nigel Clough's side have choked once or twice recently, but have enough in the bag already to be already putting the champagne on ice.

Crowd-wise, the Brewers would be a real asset to the Conference, but should they go on and win the title this season, will they be able to hang on to Clough?

Lancaster City, with games in hand on Burton, will still have a say in where the title flag flies. Manager Tony Hesketh did one of THE pieces of business of the year when he signed Andy Whittaker in the summer. Many thought the best days were behind the 33-year-old but he already has almost 30 goals to his name, and if he stays fit, there is no reason why City shouldn't take Burton close.

The bottom end is a little more complicated this season due to the introduction of the play-off system. The bottom two still go down automatically, but then the fourth from bottom play-off with the 3rd, 4th and 5th club in the First Division to see who will join them (I think!!).

As is stands at present, that would see Hyde United and Hucknall Town down with Bamber Bridge being forced to play-off against Leek Town, Rossendale United and Ashton United. Complicated, yes - interesting, yes!

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