By Jim Murray
It’s been a rough year for the league and their image on the financial front. Having three teams failing and one unsure of its fate was always a burden for this league. Now that the unfortunate fate of the ‘failing four’ has been finalised, we can take stock of the league- as it now is.
Taking a step back, the league now looks in good shape. All remaining teams have good finances, the teams all look competitive on and off the field. Now that the fat has been trimmed, the competition looks more even and more intense. With player re-allocation making the Hawks, Steelers and Eagles a bit more stacked- this could lead to a league with more parity.
The Television companies can now boast exclusive games for five of the seven/eight weekly games. This means more exclusive games for the remaining teams and more exposure out of their local areas. More exposure can lead to more support.
Having sixteen teams means that now everybody plays everyone at least once, with home-and-away ties still remaining for divisional games. This means not waiting two years to see non-conference opponents. With this parity, there’s no real strength of schedule advantage, or any excuses to be hid behind.
So, in summary, although it has been a harsh exit for the four teams we have lost, this may make the league a stronger, more dynamic and exciting league to follow over the next few years.
The Professional Football League of Eboria 