Dutch League Promotion/Relegation

[Canuck Oranje]

I became interested in this topic because of Marcel De Jong's team, Helmond Sport. Helmond began slowly this year but then has only lost once since October 15th.

I discovered the Dutch League has a very complex promotion/relegation process.

First, the bottom team from the Holland Casino Eredivisie is automatically relegated while the top team of the Gouden Gids Divisie is promoted. That part is easy.

Second, the second and third team from the bottom of the Eredivisie become part of what is called the Nacompetitie. The Nacompetitie has two groups of four teams and the two Eredivisie teams are in separate groups.

The remaining six teams come from the Gouden Gids Divisie. This is where it gets complicated.

- the 36 game (rounds) season is split into four periods of 9 games (rounds). The winner of each period automatically qualifies for the Nacompetitie if it is not the eventual league champion. Not sure if the runner up would qualify in that case. The purpose of this approach is to keep things interesting for lower teams at the end of the season since there is no relegation from the Gouden Gids Divisie.

- the remainder of the six teams would be the season's highest placing teams not already qualified.

Anyhow, with regard to Helmond, their record in the second period was 7 wins and 2 ties. I think from a quick review of the performance of other teams during that period, this record should qualify them for the Nacompetitie should they not be the eventual champion. In other words, they do have a shot at promotion regardless of their performance through to the end of the season.

It is possible that I am may have misinterpreted something and am open to revision.

[Bxl Boy]

The belgian league has the same system, for promotion from Second, Third and Fourth division

Champion always promote automatically

then, there are in each division three periods

there's a final round

For D2 -> D1 promotion, the three period winners and the runner-up are qualified, then, there's a mini-championship to determine the second promoted team (no D1 team in the final round)

In other divisions, you have teams from both divisions and there's a playoff system

I think it's also a thing to think about for a-league

We have 28 games, if we divide it into period of 7 games, we have 4 periods

The 4 period winners + the 2 first of the geneal ranking would go to the playoffs

So, at 7 games of the end, each team still has a chance to take part to the playoffs

But we have to make a better balannced schedule

[Bxl Boy]

The belgian league has the same system, for promotion from Second, Third and Fourth division

Champion always promote automatically

then, there are in each division three periods

there's a final round

For D2 -> D1 promotion, the three period winners and the runner-up are qualified, then, there's a mini-championship to determine the second promoted team (no D1 team in the final round)

In other divisions, you have teams from both divisions and there's a playoff system

I think it's also a thing to think about for a-league

We have 28 games, if we divide it into period of 7 games, we have 4 periods

The 4 period winners + the 2 first of the geneal ranking would go to the playoffs

So, at 7 games of the end, each team still has a chance to take part to the playoffs

But we have to make a better balannced schedule

[amacpher]

I heard (about 6 months ago) the Dutch league was also thinking about having a playoff for the second CL spot as well as the final UEFA Cup spot. Anybody know if this idea came to fruition yet?

[Bxl Boy]

Yes, ti will be apllied during the 2005-2006 season

Lots of people are angry because they have matches enough