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Rule change unfair
It is not yet known if the rule change expanding the Conference to twenty-four teams from the current twenty-two will be agreed. If it goes ahead at this late stage in the season it could mean that the chances of the Bulls making the playoffs that much harder.
The proposal to increase the number of teams appears to have come from new Stevenage Borough chairman Phil Wallace and new manager Graham Westley. Stevenage just happen to be fighting for their Conference life at present as they are in twenty-first position and as the rules stand quite likely to be relegated.
Should the proposal be ratified then only Kettering, assuming they continue to be in 22nd place, will be demoted. This could mean that clubs just above them will not be fighting for their Conference place with as much effort. In turn clubs looking for a play-off place with games against near bottom clubs may find points easier to come by.
At present only Hereford boss Graham Turner appears to have gone public with his view that a rule change at this stage of the season is totally unfair. But it is believed that nine other chairmen voted against the proposal. It will be interesting to find out who they were.
Meanwhile, this weekend sees a full Conference programme of fixtures. Hereford travel to Barnet and need a result to keep up their challenge for a play-off place. Other play-off hopefuls Chester have what should be an easy game against Southport whom Barnet beat 3-1 in midweek. Dagenham and Redbridge should overcome Halifax, which would help the Bulls. Gravesend & Northfleet will do well to take anything from visiting Morecambe.
Doncaster travel to Woking and would expect to pick up three points to get back on track after their defeat last Tuesday at Chester. Top of the league Yeovil are away at Margate and again an away win is likely. Another team with an outside chance of making the play-offs, Scarborough, are at home to Stevenage, and could find them difficult to take three points from.
So if results go as predicted, the gap between Hereford and the teams above them will widen unless the Bulls collect all three points.