The pursuit of happiness? The race to reach the EFL

BBC News

21-03-2025

Promotion to the Premier League or ascent into the EFL - which is the greatest prize?While elevation to the top flight of English football may bring untold riches, recent evidence suggests it also results in almost inevitable relegation or, at least, nine months of unpleasant struggle, but not so for those gaining entry to League Two.No side promoted from the National League has ever gone straight back down, further strengthening the argument there is little difference between tiers four and five.As we celebrate Non-League Day, external this weekend, Barnet are looking to take another step towards a return to the EFL while a number of sides are queuing up for a crack at the second promotion place and the argument for a third spot is intensifying.
Bees buzzing for another EFL return
Going back to the days of owner Stan Flashman and manager Barry Fry wheelin' and dealin' their way to a first EFL promotion in 1991, life as a Barnet supporter has rarely been dull, Since then have come three relegations and two more titles but now, sitting 11 points clear at the top with eight games remaining, an unprecedented fourth promotion is within their grasp."We're not naïve, we're not stupid, we know this game can kick you in the teeth if you take it for granted so our focus is always the next game and we've got an exciting one away at Altrincham on Saturday," Barnet manager Dean Brennan told BBC Radio London."The benefits of the opportunity to win this title are massive for everybody. I want to manage in the EFL and getting the club back there is my dream - the players have a lot to gain financially as well which is important, it's a job."The history of Barnet is also not lost on Brennan who initially joined the club as head of football in June 2021 before replacing Harry Kewell as manager three months later."I speak to Barry Fry a lot and he sent me an email the other day for getting manager of the month and it's like a sticker you used to get in school for being good," he added."Martin Allen (promotion-winning manager) came into the dressing room last week and gave a team talk and showed me his medal and spoke about the history he created at the club which was inspirational."The club was in a mess when I first took over but with time and an open and honest culture we've managed to get the place rocking."
York's long road back
Dropping out of the EFL may be traumatic enough for many teams but disappearing down to the next level and into regional football can be catastrophic and it has happened more often than you might think.Since promotion and relegation was first introduced for the 1986-87 campaign the likes of former league clubs Torquay United, Stockport County and Scunthorpe United have tasted the sixth tier while York City spent five seasons in National North.But the Minstermen are on a more sound footing these days and a nine-year absence from the football league could be coming to an end.Under the management of former Brighton defender and dad of Seagulls midfielder Jack, Adam Hinshelwood, they are leading the pursuit of Barnet although barring a Bees collapse they will have to go the long way around via the play-offs."The group has been unbelievable all season - the players have given everything so it would be such a shame not to see out the last most important bit of work," Hinshelwood told BBC Radio York."Everyone's going to be looking for this last block of games to put a run together and if it looks like the play-offs for us we don't want to be entering it in a bad run of form ourselves, we want to take it game by game and keep improving."
Ex-league clubs seeking former glories
The names of the other five sides currently in the National League's play-off places have all once graced the EFL, albeit Halifax Town and Gateshead are phoenix clubs.Forest Green Rovers are seeking an immediate return to League Two but two wins from eight games have slowed their progress and seen Barnet pull away."You don't know where Barnet's results are going to go so it's not a case of can we or York catch them, it's more a case of us doing our job," said boss Steve Cotterill who clocked-up 1,000 professional games in management during their 2-2 draw with Southend United last weekend."If we don't do our job it's irrelevant and I don't have time to think about other clubs - we just have to see how it pans out over the next month or so," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.Oldham Athletic and Rochdale are also in the frame to regain the position they relinquished in 2022 and 2023 respectively while Greater Manchester rivals Altrincham went full-time two seasons ago to try to boost their ambitions.Such is the nature of the National League, Southend United, with the highest attendances in the division, are finding that does not necessarily translate into on-field success while Eastleigh, who are led by former Premier League goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, are also challenging and they meet each other on Saturday.
Three-up, three down?
When direct promotion was first offered 39 years ago only the champions went up with a second promotion place via play-offs added for the 2002-03 season.The National League is now pushing for a third spot, launching its campaign last month."There is a blockage in the jump between the National League and EFL. Two-up, two-down is simply unfair," said National League general manager Mark Ives."I would think the vast majority of fans, looking at it objectively, would see the unfairness. We want a fairer system."League Two clubs would have to vote in favour of a third promotion/relegation spot which Barnet boss Dean Brennan thinks is unlikely to happen."I don't think EFL clubs will vote for it because they have too much to lose financially. The gulf between League Two and the National League is massive especially with the Sky deal they now have," he said."It just seems crazy as you work down the pyramid the promotion places become fewer," said York's Adam Hinshelwood."For me it's a League Three, it's not like it's a part-time league as it was years ago and the gap is getting closer all the time."Cotterill brought Cheltenham Town into the EFL for the first time in 1999 and has always felt there should be more opportunities for ambitious clubs."I was asked the same question 25 years ago at Cheltenham - I was an advocate of it then and am not still an advocate now just because I'm back in it with Forest Green."I think it would freshen up the whole pyramid," he said.Getting out of the National League is competitive enough but getting into it is also proving a titanic tussle in the North and South divisions.In the National League North this weekend two former EFL clubs meet with the leaders Scunthorpe United at home to second-placed Chester with a crowd of more than 8,000 packing in to Glanford Park.One of those two could be taking the place of Ebbsfleet United next season.The Kent side have won just two of their 38 games this season and will be relegated if they fail to win at Aldershot and even three points may not be enough depending on results elsewhere. There may not be many reasons to celebrate Non-League Day in Medway come five o'clock Saturday eveningYou can keep up to date with the latest from the National League on BBC Sport's dedicated pages.