According to the Aargauer Zeitung, Wohlen has been given until end of business on Wednesday to find a new stadium to play in for next season, or they will lose their license for 2017-18 to play in the Challenge League. The Niedermatten does not meet the requirements set forth by the SFL of a stadium with folding seats in at least one sector, plus there are light stanchions which need to be replaced. Wohlen's president said that they don't have the time to find an adequate replacement stadium and that they will be playing at their home in the Niedermatten no matter what league they play in. Looks to be a saving grace for a tumbling FC Wil if this holds up.
I really do not think that this should be a major issue to fine an alternative. Aarau is close, as well as Zurich. Baden might be the best choice as they actually play about 20 min away from Wohlen in a nice stadium.
24 April Xamax - FCZ 1-1 late goal for Pedro Teixeira allowed Xamax to level the match. That being said, they have almost no hope of catching FCZ now. FCZ 69 Xamax 60 Servette 51 Schaffhausen 36 Aarau 36 Winterthur 32 Wohlen 30 Le Mont 30 Chiasso 29 Wil 28
Leading Goalscorers: 21 - Jean-Pierre Nsame Servette 15 - Gaëtan Karlen Xamax 14 - Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 13 - Steven Lang Schaffhausen 13 - Carlos Silvio Winterthur 12 - Shkelqim Demhasaj Schaffhausen 12 - Moussa Kone FCZ Assist Leaders: 11- Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 11 - Gianluca Frontino Schaffhausen 10 - Antonio Marchesano FCZ 9 - Matias Vitkieviez Servette 9 - Adrian Winter FCZ Attendance: FCZ (14) 9,488 Aarau (14) 3,646 Winterthur (14) 3,221 Xamax (15) 2,948 Servette (15) 2,578 Schaffhausen (14) 2,152 Wohlen (14) 1,86 Wil (15) 1,261 Le Mont (14) 719 Chiasso (15) 608
According to reports in Switzerland, Wohlen, Wil, and Chiasso are all expected to not receive licenses on the May 1 announcement date. According to one paper in Ticino, the SFL would take Wil over Chiasso solely because of their stadium situation, even though Wil is still expected to lose points because of failure to pay back wages (still). At this point, if all three teams fail to receive licenses, the SFL will grant one conditionally to Wil and admit Kriens and Rapperswil-Jona, so long as they can achieve licenses. The SFL is becoming more strict with their stadium standards when handing out licenses, and I think it's because we're heading toward a shift in how the top two divisions will operate after 2018 or 2019. The SFL is looking to change the format to make it more competitive and entertaining, and getting stadium standards set now will prevent teams like Wohlen, Chiasso, and Aarau from getting into the top flight without having stadiums that could host Super League games. I think a 12 or 14-team top flight is a real possibility with the Challenge League and Promotion Leagues combining to become more of an amateur/feeder league and promotion to the Super League will be based on not on sporting merit, but on if your stadium can meet Super League requirements.
I also see this progression happening. I think that there are about 30 or so teams that have the infrastructure that could possibly be in the new semi-closed top divisions. I would see a combo of sporting merit and infrastructure. This could also lead to some more ground sharing.
Clubs that could meet the imagined infrastructure of at least 1000 seats with a portion of them actual seats, not terraces or benches. Basel GCZ FCZ LS Lugano Luzern Sion FCSG Thun Vaduz YB Aarau (with new stadium) Chiasso (with renovated stadium) Le Mont Xamax Schaffausen Servette Wil Winterthur FC La Chaux-de-Fonds Stade Nyonnais Wohlen (would need to add chairs) Baden BSC Old Boys Kriens Meyrin CS Chenois Locarno Bellinzona Etoile Carouge Rapperswil-Jona does not have the correct seats. I am not saying that those clubs would be in the mix, but with my imagined requirements, these could.
Chiasso, Wohlen, and Le Mont were all denied licenses for next year. Kriens, Rapperswil-Jona, and Stade Nyonnais have been granted licenses. Le Mont's president said they will not appeal and will go down to at least the Promotion League, but they could go all the way down to the 5th or 6th division given their finances. Chiasso has both a money and stadium problem. It's highly unlikely that they can get Riva IV up to standards, so they will need to find a stadium to play in. Of course, that will cost money that they currently don't have. It's looking very likely that they will go down. Wohlen's president has already said that he will not find a different stadium to play in and that he'd rather play in the Promotion League than pay for new seats and lighting, which is a strange hill to die on. They will appeal, and the appeal may be successful on the premise that they can keep their finances in order and at least install new light stanchions at the Niedermatten. On the other side, many are shocked to see Wil granted a license since they were just docked 3 points for failure to pay back wages. They also have no money and don't have a solid income stream, but what they do have is a stadium that meets all requirements to stay in the Challenge League. Only FCZ and Xamax were granted Class I licenses for next year, so they are the only two who can go up to the Super League.
29 April Winterthur - Aarau 3-2 Wohlen - Xamax 1-2 30 April Chiasso - FCZ 1-2 Le Mont - Wil 0-1 1 May Schaffhausen - Servette Winterthur is playing much better as of late. Wil climbs out of the basement with a much needed win over Le Mont. This was their first win since October! The Schaffhausen - Servette match should be a really good one. Two clubs that have played very well this spring. Servette not so much in the past few weeks, but prior to that, impressive. 4 May Aarau - FCZ
I was going to post this as well. I am a little surprised that Rapperswil-Jona's stadium is ok. I did not think they had seats, just benches. Stade Nyonnais and Kriens are fine. What next year's BCL is shaping up to be is a tale of two great divisions. Xamax Servette Winterthur Schaffhausen LS/Vaduz/??? Aarau Kriens Wil Rapperswil-Jona Stade Nyonnais Dropping points to the bottom 4 could kill any promotion ambition a club has. Regarding Xamax and FCZ getting their Class 1 license, I think that they were the only two of the BCL clubs who tried for one. Servette is more focused on next season.
We have an odd little league don't we? Where its not what you do on the pitch that counts but the pitch itself! Very frustrating to see what a shambles most of these clubs are in financially. It looks more and more like we will become a closed shop...MLS model here we come... no promotion... no relegation! Very sad! Just hope your club is on the right side of the wall when its finally built.
1 May Schaffhausen - Servette 2-1. 4 May Aarau - FCZ FCZ 72* Xamax 63 Servette 51 Schaffhausen 39 Aarau 36* Winterthur 35 Wohlen 30 Le Mont 30 Chiasso 29 Wil 28
Leading Goalscorers: 21 - Jean-Pierre Nsame Servette 16 - Gaëtan Karlen Xamax 14 - Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 14 - Carlos Silvio Winterthur 13 - Steven Lang Schaffhausen 13 - Shkelqim Demhasaj Schaffhausen 13 - Moussa Kone FCZ Assist Leaders: 12 - Gianluca Frontino Schaffhausen 11- Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 10 - Antonio Marchesano FCZ 9 - Matias Vitkieviez Servette 9 - Adrian Winter FCZ Attendance: FCZ (14) 9,488 Aarau (14) 3,646 Winterthur (15) 3,267 Xamax (15) 2,948 Servette (15) 2,578 Schaffhausen (15) 2,124 Wil (15) 1,261 Wohlen (15) 1,250 Le Mont (15) 701 Chiasso (16) 686
6 May Wil - Xamax Servette - Chiasso 7 May Schaffhausen - Aarau Wohlen - Winterthur 8 May FCZ - Le Mont
6 May Wil - Xamax 0-4 Wil is officially in the basement of the league. Yet they will stay up. Servette - Chiasso 2-2 7 May Schaffhausen - Aarau 4-0 Wohlen - Winterthur 2-1 8 May FCZ - Le Mont 5-1 Lots of goals over the weekend. 21 goals in 5 matches, not bad. FCZ is getting closer to promotion. With the 3 clubs being relegated, the last few weeks might be a tad boring. Although Schaffhausen is playing great, they still seem to be too far behind Servette to catch them. Servette seems to be too far behind Xamax to catch them, while Xamax is too far behind FCZ to catch them. So this should be a very anti-climatic finish to the season. FCZ 75 Xamax 66 Servette 52 Schaffhausen 42 Aarau 39 Winterthur 35 Wohlen 33 Chiasso 30 Le Mont 30 Wil 28 FCZ is 9 points up with 15 more possible.
]Leading Goalscorers: 21 - Jean-Pierre Nsame Servette 16 - Gaëtan Karlen Xamax 16 - Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 15 - Shkelqim Demhasaj Schaffhausen 14 - Carlos Silvio Winterthur 14 - Moussa Kone FCZ 13 - Steven Lang Schaffhausen Assist Leaders: 12 - Gianluca Frontino Schaffhausen 12 - Antonio Marchesano FCZ 11- Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 10 - Marco Schönbächler FCZ 9 - Matias Vitkieviez Servette 9 - Adrian Winter FCZ Attendance: FCZ (14) 9,488 Aarau (15) 3,727 Winterthur (15) 3,267 Xamax (15) 2,948 Servette (16) 2,513 Schaffhausen (16) 2,1111 Wohlen (16) 1,262 Wil (16) 1,233 Le Mont (15) 701 Chiasso (16) 686
Both Chiasso and Wohlen have appealed to get a license for next season. Their case will be heard on May 31. From what I've been told, Chiasso will be granted funds from the town council to upgrade the lighting at Riva IV. They are also apparently on the verge of getting some new investors to inject some money into the club to keep it in the Challenge League. Rumor is that Chiasso will be granted a license if they can show that new light stanchions will be installed before the start of next season and if they can show that they are not broke, as is widely rumored. Wohlen is still trying to find a solution for next season, including bargaining with the SFL for more time to either find a replacement stadium or at least fix the lighting at the Niedermatten. It's very unlikely that they will meet seat requirements at the stadium, but ownership is hoping that this appeal will buy them enough time to bargain their way into the Challenge League for the 2017-18 season. Le Mont has already been relegated as they have neither been granted a license for next year, nor have they appealed to get one. Their financial situation is such that they may decide to drop one more level rather than try to stay in the Promotion League. For the fourth time in the last five seasons, a team will be relegated for reasons other than sporting reasons.
Nope, I mispoke, I should have said with the "potential of" 3 clubs going down. Le Mont is a yes, Wohlen and Chiasso are still up in the air.
13 May Winterthur - FCZ Aarau - Wil 14 May Le Mont - Wohlen Xamax - Servette 15 May Chiasso - Schaffhausen
13 May Winterthur - FCZ 0-3 with over 9000k at the match. Aarau - Wil 4-0 How far Wil has fallen. 14 May Le Mont - Wohlen 1-2 Battle of two clubs that could meet in the Promotion League next season. Xamax - Servette 1-0 Xamax win the Romand Derby and keeps their very slim hopes of promotion alive. 15 May Chiasso - Schaffhausen 0-6. Chiasso was down to 10 men at the 6'. By min 18 it was 0-3 and they were down to 9 men. 4 matches left FCZ 78 Xamax 69 Servette 52 Schaffhausen 45 Aarau 42 Wohlen 36 Winterthur 35 Chiasso 30 Le Mont 30 Wil 28
]Leading Goalscorers: 21 - Jean-Pierre Nsame Servette 16 - Gaëtan Karlen Xamax 16 - Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 16 - Shkelqim Demhasaj Schaffhausen 15 - Moussa Kone FCZ 14 - Carlos Silvio Winterthur 13 - Steven Lang Schaffhausen Assist Leaders: 13 - Antonio Marchesano FCZ 12 - Gianluca Frontino Schaffhausen 12- Raphaël Nuzzolo Xamax 10 - Marco Schönbächler FCZ 9 - Matias Vitkieviez Servette 9 - Adrian Winter FCZ Attendance: FCZ (15) 9,358 Aarau (16) 3,665 Winterthur (16) 3,638 - nice to have 2 9000 + crowds vs FCZ Xamax (16) 3,079 Servette (16) 2,513 Schaffhausen (16) 2,1111 Wohlen (16) 1,262 Wil (16) 1,233 Chiasso (17) 676 Le Mont (16) 673 Le Mont and Chiasso dueling for the bottom spot!
FCZ - Servette 1-1 Nsame breaks out of his slump and scores. Wil - Winterthur 0-1 Wil has been expectantly terrible this spring. 18 May Le Mont - Aarau Schaffhausen - Xamax This should be a really exciting match. If Xamax could win, they could keep some pressure on FCZ and extend the drama a little. Wohlen - Chiasso