from say Cov/ oxford to m62 where most teams are is a few hours. your talking about Gateshead having to travel for twice as long every other week. This would be great if they were flying but Its a massive ask for fans and players.

Perhaps not have north and south but have teams on the edges of the competition geographically anchored to a division. so the southern teams (may include some m62 sides etc) all play together. This is grassroots RL keeping it as geographic as possible will encourage fans to travel. As someone who follows RL from what most flatcappers would consider off the edge of the world Its really disheartening to get mates etc along to games and there being 20 away fans. Not to mention it stops gate money going to the home side.

Unless the Leagues do a sort of joint income scheme whereby all gate receipts and merchandise sales are put into a pot and divided by the number of teams in the leagues less bonuses for cup appearances etc having teams that are so far apart is never going to benefit those in the outer regions. which lets face it are the frontlines of expansion. Nobody wants to sit in an empty stadium (like my trip to see the crusaders at quins 2 years ago)

Rob Stockwell if he's around, with Matt Cuss either way

Are Gloucester City close to returning home?? Always enjoyed going to Meadow Park and it was a real shame flood damage drove them out.

They're years away from a return, I believe, and currently play at Cheltenham Town having had a few years playing at Cirencester.

An Oxford bid is competing with Coventry for the final spot.
A decision on the fourth venue will be announced later this summer.

Wish they'd let us know before NCL application deadline.