Ok I am defeated , I have tried this for over a week and failed ...so please someone tell me why ?

$diskmb_flopdate ="2006";
if ($diskmb_flopdate < 2004) {
}&asub;
exit;

This should run onto the next print" statment : but its not .

I tried an else {..... and I tried another 'if statment in reverse added below to do the opposite ie ;
if ($diskmb_flopdate > 2004) {
}& a different sub ;
exit;

I am actually trying to compare one number against another (yeah you guessed it ('a years date') to divert to either the correct sub or print" statement , if the year is more (a higher number 2006 , the code should go one place and if its less 2003 then it should go elsewhere .