Rosencrantz
Very well known Exeweb poster
So almost going back to a Northern League, Southern League, Isthmian League set up .Good points - thanks. What I had had in mind (without thinking through the implications!) was 3 geographical divisions for the current 48 National League North and South clubs. But that's 16 clubs per division ie too small.
However, I think one of the problems in the current 6th tier is leagues of 24 clubs for part time clubs resulting in loads of midweek fixtures. That's 46 league games plus potentially quite a lot of Cup games, both in the FA Trophy and the FACup (entry is at 2nd Qualifying Round). Add in postponements for weather/ground condition - pitches aren't of the Chas type quality. Travel issues are miles worse for clubs and part time players with midweek 7.45 kick offs than for Saturday 3pm.
On the geographical division what I had in mind was (particularly because there are so many southern teams)
1. one Northern Division (stretching from the far north-east to the two clubs just north of Birmingham)
2. a South and East division incorporating London and clubs to the East of London
3. a South and West division incorporating everything west of London that's south of Birmingham