Will Bognor Regis Town be forced to switch Isthmian for Southern League for 2022-23?

Bognor in action in a post-season friendly at Chichester City last Saturday / Picture: Trevor Staff

Speculation is growing over the make-up of the 2022-23 non-league pyramid as this season’s relegation and promotion issues are settled.

Not for the first time, the ups and downs put Bognor near the border that will separate the Isthmian League from the Southern League at step three and four level. And some fans seem to think the FA will look at the Rocks as prime contenders for a move to help even up numbers across the leagues.

The Non-League Maps account on Twitter constantly updates projections of who could be in which league next season and currently has the Rocks and Corinthian Casuals moving from the Isthmian premier to the Southern League.

Worthing chairman's vow over promotion.

The people who run the account do stress it is only guesswork, and not official. But Rocks fans are starting to check how they’d get to far-flung destinations like Truro, Tiverton and Weston-super-Mare.

Rocks chief Jack Pearce said any talk about a potential league switch was pure speculation.

“This often crops up and we will have to wait and see what is proposed and decided upon,” he said.

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“There are quite a number of teams who you’d class as near the border of a league’s boundary so it’s not as easy as saying one particular team is most likely to move.”

Clubs can appeal if they are moved when they don’t want to be, although normally the original decision stays in place.

Staying in the Isthmian premier would give the Rocks Sussex derbies with Horsham, Lewes and Isthmian south east champions Hastings, although neighbours Worthing are now in National South.

Meanwhile the Rocks’ 21-22 season was celebrated at the supporters’ club’s annual presentation night.

Departing keeper Amadou Tangara was named fans’ player of the year, Dan Gifford won the most improved player vote, Calvin Davies was players’ player of the year and took the goal of the season vote, Ken White and Kenneth Wood were rewarded for services to the club off the field, Wes Hallett won the clubman award for work as kitman and keeper coach and Nathan Odokonyero won the top scorer award.