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National League managers back 3UP Campaign ahead of Saturday's Day of Action
The National League takes the 3UP campaign one step further this weekend, with Saturday, 15 November, declared 3UP Day of Action, as the league intensifies its efforts to secure a second automatic spot into the Football League.
In a bid to raise even more awareness for the campaign, all twelve of this Saturday's National League games will kick off at 3.03pm to once again underline the league's stance on changing the football pyramid and putting pressure on the EFL to discuss a possible change.
Ahead of the campaign's day of action, DAZN News gathered the thoughts of several managers across the National League and National League North and South, who are all backing the implementation of an additional promotion spot.
Andy Butler, Scunthorpe manager
"I think it's a great idea. I think it's unfair that only one goes up automatically and then one through the playoffs. I think it should be three-up, three-down; it just gives that fairness.
"If teams are performing well, why should they be punished for staying under the division? Like York last year, a perfect example, there were, I think, 20-odd points clear of the third place. Unfortunately, the play-offs didn't go their way, but yeah, three-up, three-down for sure, because it gives an incentive for everybody. If the top teams run away from it, then there's no incentive from anyone else.
"It gives a bit of competition, and for the teams that are in the league above, it puts a bit of pressure on them."
Chris Millngton, Solihull manager
"It's an absolutely brutal division. You've got four relegated and one automatic promotion place, with the one play-off as well. You look at the division above, it's a complete about-face, where you've got two who get relegated and you've got the potential for four promotions.
"It's crazy, really, that we have to deal with those kinds of odds. And then you look at the quality of the teams and the standard of the teams going up. It's very, very rare that a team goes up and struggles or has any level of difficulty in the division above.
"In fact, more often than not, they compete quite comfortably in the top half, and in many cases, they get promoted within a couple of seasons in League 2. So, the stats bear out the fact that it should be more equitable and there should be more promotion places for the National League teams."
Neal Ardley, Woking manager
"I just think it's madness, it's distorted. You know, you look at the teams that have come up and how well they've done, you know, Wrexham have gone again and so on, and there's some big clubs down here.
"So I just think, you know, why would you go three, three, three, then four, then two, and only the champions get up?
"I know teams in League Two won't vote for it because it's turkeys voting for Christmas, but you've got to be very careful because if you end up being one of the teams that drop down and you haven't voted for it, then it's awfully hard to get back."
Daryl McMahon, Hornchurch manager Phil Fiddes
"I think it definitely has to happen. I think if you look at the quality of the teams, there are probably 10, 12 teams in the National League that could easily compete in League Two.
"But to have only two spaces available, I think it's harsh. I think it will strengthen the Football League as well. There's some huge clubs in the National League and I think just to make them more open and more competitive is good for the game.
"We've got a really strong pyramid. The structure is incredible, really, down to our level in the Conference South and North. There's no other country like it. So, I think it would be fair to have three up for sure from the National League."
Phil Parkinson, Altrincham manager
"I think it's got to happen sooner rather than later. And that's probably why the EFL don't want it, because they know that the three coming down are going to struggle to go back up because our league's so tough.
"You look at Bromley, who came out of our division, they are more than coping in the division above, and you wouldn't have called them archetypal big hitters. And that's without counting your Wrexhams and your Stockports, and all the teams that have come before them."
Luke Garrard, Boreham Wood manager
"My chairman uses the saying that the EFL clubs is like Turkey voting for Christmas and he's spot on.
"Why would EFL clubs want to vote for three up, three down, knowing full well that there are two down and there could potentially be a third going down out of the EFL?
"The fact of the matter is that the National League was called an elite league when we were using COVID. So why are we not running alongside the League Two, League One sort of platform in terms of three up, three down?
"For me, yeah, it has to happen. It has to happen. And my chairman has said I'll be consistent if we were to ever get to the promised land of the EFL, he'd be voting for three up, three down because he's an advocate for it now.
"He'll be an advocate if we were to be fortunate enough to get there. So, yeah, I'm a strong believer."
Boreham Wood
Kenton Richardson, Gateshead captain
"I think three-quarters of our league, top end of our league, could easily go into League Two and not look out of place. I don't think that's really naive to say because (you look at the teams that have gone up, they went and kicked on and cemented places in the league.
"Any team that's gone up, they haven't come straight back down. I think anyone from this league could compete in League Two. It's very close and the margins are slim from the difference from the two leagues."
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