Starting his playing career in the Isthmian League with Southall and Hayes in the 1980’s, Les Ferdinand MBE famously went on to attain Premier League stardom with Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers as well as winning 17 full England caps.
Now, in his current role as QPR’s Director of Football, Ferdinand still keeps a very keen eye on developments below the EFL where a seismic battle for the National League title has ensued.
Both Wrexham and Notts County are on track to achieve 100+ point seasons having already netted a century of goals. Steeped in history, both of these famous clubs are clearly geared for an emotional return to the Football League but only one can do so automatically while the other will be forced to lick their wounds of missing out on top spot and negotiate their way through the ‘lottery’ of the play-offs.
Arguments for an extra promotion place have fallen on deaf ears in recent years but have resurfaced this season as part of the EFL’s contribution to the game’s financial reset, as demanded by chairman Rick Parry.
I caught up with ‘Sir Les’ for an in-depth chat this week and he was clearly in support of the plan.
“If leading National League clubs are capable of coping in League Two, why shouldn’t it be three teams going up and down,” the 56-year-old said.
“If you look at other EFL divisions, three sides get promoted so why isn’t that the case for the National League as well?
Denne historien er fra April 02, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 02, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.
