Bulls News Potential Points Table

Towards the end of each of Hereford United's last few years in the Conference Bulls News published a potential points (PP) table. Its aim was simple - just to reflect the maximum points clubs at the top end of the Conference could get should they win all their remaining matches.

Every time a club played its result was factored into the table and as the end of the season became closer teams that definitely couldn't reach a certain level such as the play-offs dropped out of the reckoning.

In the Conference only one club gains automatic promotion, the next four battle it out in the play-offs. Hereford United finished in the play-off positions for three years running but it was only in the last season, 2005/06, that they won the play-offs and returned to their rightful place in League Two.

In League Two, three clubs are automatically promoted and a fourth goes up provided they win the play-offs which involve the four clubs finishing from fourth to seventh position in the table.

Whilst the number of points to reach the play-offs can vary from one season to another, it is generally assumed that a minimum of 74 points is required to be reasonably certain. However last season Shrewsbury made the play-offs with just 71 points and in the previous season Lincoln only had 66 points and took part in the play-offs. In 2004/05 Northampton were the lowest club to take part. They finished with 72 points.

As regards automatic promotion over the last three seasons the third club has gained between 80 and 85 points. Last season Swindon had 85 points, in 2005/06 Leyton Orient gained 81 points and in 2004/05 Swansea City acheived 80 points. So it looks as though a figure of about 88 points is required to be sure of an automatic promotion place. It might be less - we've used 85 points in the table below - but at this stage of the season it's probably better to be a little cautious.

Currently in League Two clubs have up to another twelve games (Rochdale) to play - the total number of games to be played is 46 - which means in theory that a club with twelve games outstanding could gain another 36 points.

So, below is the current League Two table with the clubs Potential Points (PP) added.

Table updated 8pm Sunday:

1 Milton Keynes Dons 37 38 78 PP - 105
2 Peterborough 38 35 78 PP - 102
3 Hereford 37 25 73 PP - 100
4 Darlington 37 31 72 PP - 99
5 Stockport 37 14 65 PP - 92
6 Wycombe 38 11 63 PP - 87
7 Rotherham 38 8 61 PP - 85
8 Chesterfield 38 14 57 PP - 81
9 Rochdale 35 10 56 PP - 89
10 Morecambe 37 -4 53 PP - 80
11 Grimsby 38 -1 52 PP - 76
12 Brentford 38 -14 49 PP - 73
13 Bradford 36 0 47 PP - 77
14 Lincoln City 38 -11 46 PP - 70
15 Accrington Stanley 38 -28 45 PP - 69
16 Shrewsbury 37 -6 42 PP - 69
17 Bury 38 -7 42 PP - 66
18 Barnet 35 -10 42 PP - 75
19 Chester 38 -15 40 PP - 64
20 Dag & Red 38 -19 40 PP - 64
21 Macclesfield 38 -19 38 PP - 62
22 Notts County 37 -15 36 PP - 63
23 Mansfield 36 -16 33 PP - 63
24 Wrexham 35 -21 32 PP - 65

As this morning's table shows eight clubs can still obtain automatic promotion (PP of 85 or above) and fifteen clubs could reach the play-offs (PP of 72 or above).

In practice, the automatic promotion battle looks to be between MK Dons, Peterborough, Hereford , Darlington, with Stockport and Rochdale still in with a chance. In theory, as the table shows, Wycombe and Rotherham could still go up but that now seems highly unlikely.

As regards Hereford United just one more point should be enough to ensure at least a place in the play-offs and another fifteen points should ensure automatic promotion.

There's plenty to play for.

Meanwhile there's just one League Two match this afternoon - Rochdale play Accrington.

---