THE FA, in its infinite wisdom, have come up with the idea of promoting the two top teams from the Northern League each season.

Teams like Bishop, Shildon and South Shields who were promoted this season want promotion but what about the rest working on a shoestring budget counting every penny each week?

The promoted teams will most likely have to improve their grounds and up their admission fee and a few bad results will see the attendance fall.

With two teams being relegated from the higher leagues each season, within four years it will no longer look like the Northern League.

Then there comes the expense of hundreds of miles more to travel by teams just keeping their heads above water.

Midweek games with lads having to take time off work and getting home after midnight and starting work at seven or eight the next morning will put stress on them at work and also their family life.

So in my opinion the FA needs a re-think or it will definably be disastrous for the Northern League.

Terry Tucker, St. Helen Auckland