CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe says he would be against a return to regionalising the lower leagues.

Howe is due to start preparing Cherries for their second season in League Two when his squad returns for pre-season training on Friday, July 3.

Promotion and relegation issues last season have seen the bottom tier of the Football League take on even more of a northern bias.

Cherries lost three trips of fewer than 100 miles – Brentford, Wycombe and Exeter – while relatively short journeys to Luton and Mark Stimson’s Gillingham also bit the dust.

And while Chester’s relegation resulted in the loss of one arduous expedition up the M6, the arrival of Crewe, Burton and Hereford will slightly increase the mileage next season.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “It’s a shame from our point of view and, of course, it’s a shame for the supporters.

“Our away support was fantastic last season and we appreciate the efforts the supporters go to to follow us all over the country. It’s going to be difficult for them again next season.

“We seemed to have one long journey after another last season and it’s going to be more of the same next season.

“It was a shame to lose some of the teams in and around us like Wycombe, Brentford, Exeter, Luton and Gillingham.

“Those games gave our fans a chance to support us away from home with not too long a journey. It’s going to be tough from that point of view because we’re going to be on the road a lot. But we’re used to it and it won’t be a problem.

“It’s just how things have panned out this season and it might be different another year. League One is quite southern based so our aim is to try to get back in there.

“From a footballing point of view though, I’m not in favour of regionalisation. I appreciate it would make life easier for the supporters but you want it to be a national league. You get a truer reflection and I think regionalisation would diminish the competitiveness. The structure is fine as it is.”