# English Football - Coca-Cola Leagues - Seasonal Climax **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 29, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192 "2009-03-29T16:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/41 "2009-04-19T18:52:30Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I’m worried about Rochdale. > > For so long it looked like automatic promotion for them but now the playoffs beckon once more. Mind you, if your team can negotiate these games and win at Wembley there is simply no better way to go up. I speak from personal experience having attended the Millennium Stadium in 2001 and Wembley in 2007. Fabulous days out, both of them. > > Every set of supporters deserves some success every now and again, and I hope 35 years of basement-dwelling can be brought to a close for Rochdale this season. > > Good luck to them. Even as a diehard Man City fan I’m worried about the Dale, having lived in Rochdale for many years they are my second team of choice and I’ve been to Spotland more times than enough. As a matter of fact I was at Wembley last season when Rochdale lost to Stockport, I guess another trip darn sarf wouldn’t do me any harm. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/42 "2009-04-20T11:47:15Z")
Saints will not escape this, we are as good as down. Oh well at least we have Swindon away to look forward to next season. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/43 "2009-04-20T17:18:03Z")
It’s a bugger when one’s internet connection plays up – 2 mins on 2 mins off – just like a whore’s knickers. > [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > Your position might well improve into 6th the way things are panning out. Well we’ll have a better idea about that tonight as Burnley take on Sheff. U. Needless to say, Swans’ fans have become temporary Blades for one evening only. We want them to win tonight and lose on Saturday, because we have to play them at Bramall Lane. If results were to go our way then our last game against Blackpool will be crucial, so, since you appear to be safe now from relegation I expect your team to lie down and let us win 🙂 Since they brought in the play off system it has certainly added some spice to the final few games and keeps interest going to the final day. Regardless whether my team is involved I think R5L does a great job on the last day with up to date summaries of who’s up or down as the goals go in. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/44 "2009-04-21T12:46:58Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > Every set of supporters deserves some success every now and again I keep telling myself this, but I’m a Palace fan . . . So not even the chance of some exciting play-off action this season. At least the last win makes relegation equally as unlikely. Still, the young players coming through look good. If they stay . . . Same old, same old. I will hide in a foreign land and pretend none of it is happening. Until it gets exciting again! ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/45 "2009-04-21T12:47:38Z")
I’m not sure if **Vetch** has forgotten to brag, is concerned about accidentally being promoted, or is just being honourable - as he is an SDMBer, I would normally assume the latter, but he is a Swansea fan which complicates matters :). I didn’t see the game (or even a report of it - shows what a great “fan” I am) - was it any good, or did the Robins roll over in the last 10 minutes, as they seem wont to do recently? I notice Bournemouth are at home to relegation rivals Grimsby on Saturday - a win will guarantee their survival, a point makes it likely, and if Chester lose to Aldershot it’s all over anyway. And Burton appear to have the conference wrapped up - good week for teams beginning with “Bur”! ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/46 "2009-04-21T13:24:04Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > I’m not sure if **Vetch** has forgotten to brag, is concerned about accidentally being promoted, or is just being honourable - as he is an SDMBer, I would normally assume the latter, but he is a Swansea fan which complicates matters :). > > I didn’t see the game (or even a report of it - shows what a great “fan” I am) - was it any good, or did the Robins roll over in the last 10 minutes, as they seem wont to do recently? > > I notice Bournemouth are at home to relegation rivals Grimsby on Saturday - a win will guarantee their survival, a point makes it likely, and if Chester lose to Aldershot it’s all over anyway. And Burton appear to have the conference wrapped up - good week for teams beginning with “Bur”! Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt supporting Swansea, **DC** , it’s humility. Being cocky about any success will usually come back and bite one on the arse. I’d like to see Bournemouth stay up if for no other reason than whenever I’ve gone there to watch the Swans everyone been so friendly, including the stewards. Add to that having 15 points deducted and still making a fight of it deserves support. I haven’t seen anything like the same whinging from Bournemouth that occurred last season from Leeds. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/47 "2009-04-22T13:02:39Z")
> [@Vetch](#): > > Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt supporting Swansea, **DC** , it’s humility. > > Being cocky about any success will usually come back and bite one on the arse. > > I’d like to see Bournemouth stay up if for no other reason than whenever I’ve gone there to watch the Swans everyone been so friendly, including the stewards. > > Add to that having 15 points deducted and still making a fight of it deserves support. I haven’t seen anything like the same whinging from Bournemouth that occurred last season from Leeds. It was 17 points, actually (not sure how these figures come about), and you’re right - Bournemouth are a very friendly club (though I suppose for Swansea fan almost every club is “friendly”, with the possible exceptions of Millwall, Leeds, and Cardiff 🙂 - sorry, you don’t really seem to deserve these digs but I’m too immature to resist making them anyway). They are also quite used to the backs-against-the-wall, no money, lack of crowd size/facilities situation, and hence are quite good at it. I believe they avoided relegation from the third division at the death for a number of seasons before finally succumbing. They certainly don’t deserve to drop out of the League, but then “deserve” is probably a nonsensical concept in modern football. Incidentally, looking at the BBC website for coverage of the Budget today, I noticed the following: > [@the BBC website](#): > > **1226** Loud cheers around the chamber for Luton South MP Margaret Moran who, wearing a Luton Town FC scarf, congratulates the team for winning the Johnston Paints Trophy, despite being relegated from the Football League. Mr Brown says he is sure the club will return to the league soon. What a bunch of jokers. Fair comment, but hardly the appropriate forum I would think - they’re being paid for this! Clearly it only took up a very small amount of time, but still. [/grumpy old man] ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/48 "2009-04-23T14:56:45Z")
Saints relegated: [BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | S | Southampton | Penalised Saints face relegation](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8014811.stm) I had already resigned myself to this so it’s not so bad. Lowe out. Again. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/49 "2009-04-23T15:08:00Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > It was 17 points, actually (not sure how these figures come about), and you’re right - Bournemouth are a very friendly club (though I suppose for Swansea fan almost every club is “friendly”, with the possible exceptions of Millwall, Leeds, and Cardiff 🙂 - sorry, you don’t really seem to deserve these digs but I’m too immature to resist making them anyway). You haven’t been to any Saints v Bournemouth games have you? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/50 "2009-04-23T15:37:41Z")
Southampton now definitively relegated, as the Football League impose a [10-point penalty](http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/23/southampton-point-penalty-relegated-championship) for insolvency. Despite my mostly growing up near Southampton and having attended more games at the Dell than anywhere else, I have to say it’s the right decision. The holding company wheeze would’ve made a mockery of the insolvency rules if it were not treated as the same entity as the club. If Southampton escape the relegation zone, the 10-point penalty will be enacted this season (thus cancelling out their effort and relegating them anyway), and if they relegate anyway, it’ll be imposed next season. I thought that seemed a bit unfair, but on reflection it’s the only way to do it; otherwise relegated clubs with heavy debts would have a large incentive to go insolvent just before the end of the season (and it’s precisely these clubs that are likely to have unserviceable debts). Pretty sad, though. What a catalogue of fuck-ups it took to get here. Ah, **martu** beat me to it. That’ll teach me to go and get a cup of tea in between previews. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/51 "2009-04-23T15:49:17Z")
> [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > Southampton now definitively relegated, as the Football League impose a [10-point penalty](http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/23/southampton-point-penalty-relegated-championship) for insolvency. Despite my mostly growing up near Southampton and having attended more games at the Dell than anywhere else, I have to say it’s the right decision. The holding company wheeze would’ve made a mockery of the insolvency rules if it were not treated as the same entity as the club. I have to agree with this it was the correct decision, the only revenue for the Holding company was from the club. Another sign of how inept Lowe and the board are - I expect they thought this was a very clever ruse but really it was a childish ploy. Lowe out. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/52 "2009-04-24T12:23:20Z")
> [@martu](#): > > You haven’t been to any Saints v Bournemouth games have you? Correct! Comments from former Saints chairman (Leon Crouch, or something?) on the R5L news last night seemed to suggest they had good grounds for appeal, but what these are I’m not sure. Presumably it will be a legal debate about the finer points of the wording in the rule in question. Let’s hope common sense prevails - I’m inclined to agree with the “childish ploy” line. Interesting point about about the timing of the penalty - the “nice” thing about it that **Dead Badger** didn’t mention is that it still gives the team an incentive to try to “stay up” this season, to avoid being saddled with the penalty for a possible promotion campaign. ETA: I’d love to hear **GorillaMan** ’s comments about Keano’s appointment at Ipswich - I haven’t seen him around on the boards lately, but it’s quite possible I’ve just not been paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/53 "2009-04-24T16:42:31Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Correct! > > Comments from former Saints chairman (Leon Crouch, or something?) on the R5L news last night seemed to suggest they had good grounds for appeal, but what these are I’m not sure. Presumably it will be a legal debate about the finer points of the wording in the rule in question. Let’s hope common sense prevails - I’m inclined to agree with the “childish ploy” line. > > Interesting point about about the timing of the penalty - the “nice” thing about it that **Dead Badger** didn’t mention is that it still gives the team an incentive to try to “stay up” this season, to avoid being saddled with the penalty for a possible promotion campaign. > > ETA: I’d love to hear **GorillaMan** ’s comments about Keano’s appointment at Ipswich - I haven’t seen him around on the boards lately, but it’s quite possible I’ve just not been paying attention. There could be a legal way out it seems though I doubt it. Morally we deserve the penalty. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/54 "2009-04-25T16:17:02Z")
Well unfortunately Rochdale failed to make the auto promo spots but they did get the 1 pt needed to qualify for the play-offs. Still in with a chance of Div 1 football ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/55 "2009-04-25T16:19:48Z")
POSH ARE UP! POSH ARE UP! Championship football here we come! ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/56 "2009-04-25T16:44:12Z")
> [@MJinks](#): > > POSH ARE UP! POSH ARE UP! Championship football here we come! Such good news you posted it twice. 🙂 Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/57 "2009-04-25T17:01:22Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > Such good news you posted it twice. 🙂 > > Congratulations. Heh, I’m quite giddy ;). I can’t wait until next weeks home game. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/58 "2009-04-25T18:45:03Z")
I noticed today in perusing the situation that next week, Scunthorpe play Tranmere, with the final playoff position hanging in the balance between the two. Now that’s some prescient scheduling!!! 😛 I’m hoping that Leeds take the last promotion spot through the playoffs. I’ve always felt their fans got a raw deal. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/59 "2009-04-26T18:07:31Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I noticed today in perusing the situation that next week, Scunthorpe play Tranmere, with the final playoff position hanging in the balance between the two. Now that’s some prescient scheduling!!! Also possibly prescient is the Reading/Birmingham fixture next Sunday. If Reading defeat Norwich away tomorrow, which incidentally will leave Norwich with a severe relegation avoidance problem, any one of Birmingham, Sheffield United, or Reading could win automatic promotion on 3 May. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192/60 "2009-04-27T16:24:50Z")
Well, Bournemouth beat Grimsby 2-1 to secure their place in the league next season. Chester’s draw with Aldershot means that they are all but relegated, needing a swing of 3 points and about 19 goals in the final game to stay up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-football-coca-cola-leagues-seasonal-climax/491192.md?page=4)