Following the recent headlines surrounding Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's proposal of establishing a two-tier Premier League involving Celtic and Rangers, this week I examine the merits of such an idea and the impact it would have on the lower leagues.
I also give my views on the jobs Malky Malkay and Paul Buckle are doing at Watford and Torquay respectively as well as assessing Carlisle's prospects for the future and the benefits of loan deals in the lower leagues.
If you have a question for Steve, you can submit it through Twitter at http://twitter.com/AskClaridge or use the form on the top right of the page.
What are your thoughts on Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's proposal of locking the majority of Football League teams out of the Premier League by setting up a two-tier top flight consisting of 36-40 teams? Andrew Talbot, UK
It's absolutely scandalous, it just cannot be done. Let's be honest, there are bigger teams in the Football League than Bolton - so what would happen to the Leeds of this world, the Newcastles and the Nottingham Forests?
I am staggered that any right-minded football person would believe that such an idea would have any credence at all
I'm not sure if that's Phil Gartside's proposal or just one of a raft of ideas being looked at by the Premier League, but that would alienate every supporter in the land - not just fans of the clubs who are left out.
It's as daft an idea as the 39th game. It's just ridiculous.
You can't arbitrarily pick and choose who goes up and down - it'd be a return to the old school tie brigade, when teams had to be elected into a league wouldn't it?
If there was no prospect of promotion to the top flight, you might as well shut the lights off and go home, there would be no point going on. I am staggered that any right-minded football person would believe that such an idea would have any credence at all.
Watford have been doing a lot better than many Hornets fans expected this season. What do you think of Malky Mackay and where do you think Watford can finish this term? Edward Henderson, UK
I like Malky Mackay. I think he should've got the job the first time around and I'm certainly glad he's got it now. He's doing very well and has gained from being in and around the club for a while now. He's been able to watch a lot of Championship football and he's also got to know who can play at that level and who can't - both inside and outside of the club.
Watford 3-0 Scunthorpe (UK users only)
You don't have to have millions and millions of pounds to be a success in the Championship if you're astute and you know what you're doing and what you're looking for.
It was a masterstroke bringing Heidur Helgusson back to a club at which he's obviously very comfortable, for example.
Malky's showing he's well organised, knows how to set his teams out, and knows how to go out and pick up players. He's obviously been preparing for the time he got the job for a while because he's settled in, in the blink of an eye
As for how far Watford can go this season, you get the feeling that the side is at full stretch at the moment and how long they can sustain their current form - which is maybe their maximum right now - is yet to be answered. When I was at Millwall, we managed to sustain it for a whole season one year, but Watford can't afford to fall away or sustain too many injuries. It's difficult to say they will get a top six finish, but anything in and around a top 10 spot would be fantastic.
What do you think of the job Paul Buckle has done at Torquay? Do you believe we have a chance of making it to the play-offs as he appears to have steadied the ship with the Gulls' recent run of six games unbeaten in the league? I think his achievements so far are remarkable and I hope we can hang on to him at least until next season. I think he has a big future in the game, sadly at bigger clubs than Torquay though. Stuart Harley, England
I'm afraid I can't see Torquay making the play-offs, no way in the world. Their problem is that they are one of the smallest clubs in that division. They had a team that was good enough to get out of the Conference, admittedly through the play-offs, but League Two is another step up entirely.
Another problem they have is that, logistically, they are marooned. I know what that's like having managed Weymouth, and it makes it difficult to attract players to the club. They are not a big club - if they could pay bigger wages than anyone else, they'd have a chance of attracting players, but unfortunately they can't.
Torquay 0-2 Rotherham
For me, this is their ceiling division and their immediate ambitions should be to hang on in there and wait for that one good year that comes around every now and then.
As for Paul, I think he's done brilliantly. In fact, I think one or two clubs might have already enquired after him and that's how it works in football.
No disrespect to Torquay, but any ambitious manager will most likely look to move on to bigger and better clubs if they have the opportunity to do so, and I don't see Paul being any different.
Do you think Carlisle have hit their peak now, and are back to their 'normal' level ie. low League One/high League Two? Steve, Libya
Well, we've just been talking about Torquay hitting their ceiling division - but I don't agree that Carlisle have hit their peak just yet.
Carlisle 0-1 Swindon
I think they can be competitive in this league and, if anything, they have slightly under-achieved.
They command a crowd of 7,000-8,000 which is certainly not the smaller end of that league. I think it's a club that can attract players and they have a fan-base there that if they got things going could certainly push them to even greater heights.
Even this season, they should be looking at a lower mid-table finish, maybe, and then push on in forthcoming seasons.
As a Liverpool supporter I cant help think that some of our players are young and need time to adapt. Do you think that more Premier League teams should be loaning out these youngsters to help them progress and develop rather than rotting on the bench or the reserves? Wouldn't English football benefit with young players earning experience in the Championship rather than sat watching each week? Jamie Williams, Wales
I couldn't agree more. It's what it's all about - sometimes you have to take a step down to take a step up.
From a player's point of view, it ticks all the boxes because, let's be honest, reserve matches are just not competitive. You play on a Tuesday afternoon, the games are easy-paced, there's no-one watching you and there's no pressure.
Adel Taarabt at QPR is an example of a good loan signing
You go into the Championship and all of a sudden it's a steep learning curve. Of course, there's plenty of people who come down and can't handle it - but if they can't handle it there, they are going to struggle to handle it in the Premier League for sure.
Until you're involved in the first team, playing week in, week out, you're not really a footballer. You're not part of anything.
The lower leagues are a fantastic learning ground for any player. There's never an easy game, you have to work every minute of every match, and it really sorts the men from the boys. I'd advise it to anybody. If a player comes in and applies himself, is willing to knuckle down and show character and play, then everyone's a winner. He gains from it, the loan club gains from it and the parent club gain from it.
Steve Claridge is a BBC Football League pundit who played more than 800 matches for 15 clubs over the course of a 24-year playing career. He was talking to Sam Lyon.
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