The National League

In the National League, Barnet are blitzing their way to the title, Barnet are flying their wings, Champions elect. York City are striving to end their eight year stay in the National League, the Minster Men, save a prayer for me now. Forest Green looking for a quick return to the Football League are contesting a play-off spot, imminent and the former Premiership club Oldham Athletic, alongside FC Halifax Town and Gateshead are the main clubs in the play-off spot aspirations, six other clubs have their target still in reach, the last play-off spot. In the depths Ebbsfleet are relegated with six clubs contesting the drop to National League North and South depending on which way the Football Association point their compass on any disputed issues if arises, reference Bishop Stortford’s promotion in 2023 to National League North, the stadium is housed fifty miles from Heathrow Airport and is of a Southern compass, on the clubs relegation season ending 2023-24, the FA redirected the clubs of a Southern compass to the Southern League Premier Division Central. Hoodwinked.

The National League North

The most intriguing of leagues with Scunthorpe United, Chester FC, Brackley Town and Kidderminster Harriers, the main protagonists aiming for the one automatic promotion glorification. Scunthorpe’s 72 year Football League status ended the season 2022, fellow Football League club historically wise Chester FC have been entrenched in the league for seven seasons with play-off failure on two occasions. Brackley Town, for their part are heading for their third successive play-off syndrome of failure on the top spot. Kidderminster Harriers are looking for a quick bounce back return to the National League having lasted one season there during the 2023-24 season, it has to be the case that the Champions will come from one of these clubs, the remining three paly-off positions can be rounded up at seven clubs all vying.

Clubs trying to avoid the outer reaches of the pyramid system, link to articles October 26^th ‘The Magnificent Pyramid Part 1 and 2’, with Farsley relegate and Rushall alongside Warrington Town to jump on board? Needham and Oxford still have intakes of oxygen on survival with Radcliffe Borough seeming to be the only other club coming into the relegation equation, the ending spring tunes of April will reveal all.

The National League South

The NL South has seven clubs in the mix for the top spot Worthing and Truro head the table with Weston Super Mare the only club that can still enter into the afforded seven for a play-off spot. At the rear end, Aveley and Weymouth are relegated with Welling United, Saint Albans, Salisbury, and Enfield all battling to avoid the last two remaining relegation spots. In the 2023 season Luton Town reached the Premiership nine seasons after the Hatter’s promotion ride from the National League, dreams can be realised. The National League clubs want the English Football League to introduce a 3 up promotion spots and 3 down from the 5^th tier, an extra promotion spot. All the promotion and relegation issues to be settled 25^th May pending.

From Claret to Black

Burnley Football Club are suing Everton FC for compensation earmarking the Clarets Premiership relegation, dating the 2021-22 season. The Clarets finished 17^th in the Premiership that season on 35 points trap dooring to the Championship, Everton finished 16^th four points clear of Burnley. The Lancastrian’s grips is that Everton were deducted ten points under the PSR ruling, the profit and sustainability regulation to be reduced to six points on appeal, the Clarets state that the Toffees initial ten point reduction should have been made active for the following 2022-23 season. It is the Premiership executives who set the rule book not Everton, the Toffees went to the rule book, tribunal activated, the Burnley to sue procedure surely lays at the door of the Premiership HQ, as surely as it sounds Everton were entitled to appeal, hard brunch for the Burnley to digest, but rules are rules, it is for Burnley to sue the Premier League not Everton.

The fact that Everton escaped relegation on adhering to the rule book, as daft as it sounds? To claim that Everton gained an unfair sporting advantage, is that the case? To restate that it was the Premier League who returned the Everton points via the tribunal. Could this become a worrying trend, clubs v clubs on the to sue platform? To suggest that Burnley need to be careful, the Everton owners the Friedkin’s are big hitters, to counter sue? It’s all feasible. The ballpark figure that Burnley could be seeking to range between ten to twenty million pounds, worth the chase for money? Let the proceedings begin my lord, from Claret to black?

The Carabao Cup

Congratulations to Newcastle United on lifting the Carabao Cup defeating Liverpool 2-1 ending the Magpies 70 year trophy drought since the club’s 1955 FA Cup triumph v Manchester City 3-1. The club did win the inter-cities fairs cup in 1969, the 70 year tag is attached on the domestic front. The much berated Carabao Cup has seen a 20 percent increase in attendances to 1.7 million pounds, the highest figures since the 2001-2002 season, of further note the season’s first round matches had an increase of 250,000, link to article Oct 8^th 2019 ‘The Carabao Cup’.

Manero on X

@chestermanero
Yes Novak is the GOAT, but majestic Federer was the best to watch.

@chestermanero
RAFA the ambassador for growth tennis in Saudi, good values and true to his wallet.

@chestermanero
Fifteen points behind Liverpool is embarrassing, if Arteta had signed an out and out centre-forward then on the shirt tails Liverpool they would be.

@chestermanero (Callum McIntyre Chester FC manager)
Come on Callum, you can do this, get us out of this league, dig in deep, one match at a time, forget the possible scenarios, they do not matter, come rain or shine, you are not open to any criticism whatsoever, you have done a fantastic job from day one, good luck.

To Feature in May’s Edition

The new England, Thomas Tuchel ‘On a wing and a Prayer’

The Manero callouts, Manero slams the investment group FC100,000

Manero questions the former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini’s corruption acquittals.

The Ballon d’Or article will now appear in May’s edition