Lymington & New Milton boss Ian Robinson reckons the Wessex League's emergence as an FA Vase force is one good reason why their champion side shouldn't be drawn into promotion play-offs at the end of the season.
As things currently stand, only the champion club is eligible to go up, but with 13 feeder leagues believed to be fighting it out for eight promotion spots, the FA could well introduce play-offs.
Robinson argues, however, that given the high standards set by Wessex clubs in national competitions, it would be a nonsense if promotion prospects were to stand or fall on the lottery of the play-offs.
The Linnets boss, whose reward for Saturday's brilliant 3-1 Vase victory at Billingham Town is a last-16 trip to Eastern Counties outfit Bury Town on February 12, said: "Our priority's still to win the league and it's disappointing to think that, if we did, there's still no guarantee we'd go up.
"When you consider how well the Wessex League has done in national competitions, it seems unfair that the champions could still fall at the last hurdle against, say, a side from the Sussex League who've got no one left at this stage of the Vase. It would take no overview of the strength of the league.
"Looking at what Wessex clubs have done nationally, you'd think we're the ones equipped to handle it better in a higher league.
"Our FA Cup run (Linnets beat Chippenham and Merthyr Tydfil and took Conference outfit Woking to a replay) is indicative of what we can do, yet if we do win the league and have an off-day in the play-offs, that would be that.
"Maybe leagues like ourselves and the Eastern Counties should be seeded and leave the lesser leagues to fight it out in the play-offs."
While the Linnets would have preferred a home Vase draw, Robinson reckons another weekend away will do wonders for team bonding.
He said: "I don't think we could have done the Billingham trip any better than we did.
"The coach was good, the hotel was perfect, the boys behaved themselves and the team spirit was excellent.
"It wasn't a pretty game. Billingham wanted to mix it, but we showed character, resilience and discipline and didn't get a player booked."
The Wessex League's other survivors, AFC Newbury, squeezed past Thackley 1-0 at home.
They too will be heading east next month to Soham Town Rangers, who sit six spots below fourth-placed Bury Town in the Ridgeons Premier table.
Manager Guy Whittingham joked: "We might as well share the same bus as Lymington!
"The draw could have been better for us, but it could also have been a lot worse. It's just great to be through and one round closer to the final.
"Mind you, I'm not excited as I should be because we didn't play well against Thackley. We won, but it wasn't convincing."
Trevor Senior's Bridgwater Town, shock conquerors of Vase holders Winchester City, now take on last season's beaten finalists AFC Sudbury at Fairfax Park.
FA Vase fifth round (Saturday, February 12): Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA v Tipton Town, Enfield v Bedlington, Frome v Brook House, Bury Town v Lymington & New Milton, Colne v Didcot, Soham Town Rangers v AFC Newbury, Bridgwater v AFC Sudbury, Backwell or Lowestoft Town v Stourbridge.
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