Sunday I was a bit surprised to pick up my copy of the excellent Non League Paper and see a headline on the front featuring Mark Ives. An interview inside that seemed to come out of nowhere.
The new creation of the National League Cup has come under plenty of criticism over the last few weeks. I’ve been quite vocal on that because I don’t believe it offers anything to National League clubs and is just another lip service Premier League idea.
The interview however doesn’t just contain the cup however, the regulator and FA Cup replays plus three up, three down are also included but what exactly did I make of it?
Well, grab yourself a subscription to read more, I won’t be pulling any punches because I fully agree with the eight clubs not competing plus more on the other topics he touched on.
The content below was originally paywalled.
As we all know the statement put out by the league contained no benefit to the National League clubs bar the prize money and keeping the gate receipts. But let’s be realistic here, those gates are going to be tiny. I’ve yet to see any fan saying they will be attending any of the games to be played and I truly hope it’s boycotted.
Do you really want to see your side playing against a bunch of kids or would you rather save your cash for the more meaningful league games? The first games take place this week and all eyes will be on the attendance levels if they are even announced.
To think the new substitutes rule means more minutes for those not playing in this competition shows how detached he is from his own league. Five used from seven instead of three used from five still means only two unused, I mean how many National League games have you been to where sides haven’t used all five changes? I mean, come on, that’s a bit straw clutching if ever I saw it!
How big does he think every club’s squad is? There are probably if you take out injuries no more than five per club not involved on a matchday, so add in the two unused subs and that’s only seven players needing minutes, create a better argument please.
Eight clubs not competing because they’re not sure? Hmm, more like sensible not to risk their players who want to chase promotion and titles, the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, not a competition which in its own statement here says it’s for the ‘elite player performance plan’, that’s Premier League kids by the way.
And get this one! Payments are being made to Step 2 clubs who aren’t even part of the competition, so let’s dilute the money even further, that’s truly unbelievable! Great for them, money for not even lifting a finger, that shows how bizarre this competition really is. And you have to pay to enter as well, crazy, crazy stuff but the National League has form when you think back to 2020 and pandemic distribution money……
Now, apparently the cup is not linked to losing FA Cup replays, he’ll tell you that until ‘he’s blue in the face’ apparently, but in order for the games to fit in why are not still FA Cup replays then? Too many games?
Do me a favour! You’ve just added seven more games minimum to the schedule on top of 46 league games plus a minimum one Trophy and FA Cup games plus a Senior County Cup fixture thrown in. Most won’t face an FA Cup replay, that’s fact, but there is no getting out of seven extra matches.
Regardless of whether talks began before the replays disappeared, there was only going to be a casualty, that’s naïve to think otherwise in this day and age. And losing those games affects the whole pyramid, not just the 72 odd you preside over.
There is no compensation money for them below Step 2 however, just like it or lump it, the National League aren’t looking out for their non-league cousins.
Now to the regulator. Whilst like all the stakeholders want the right amount of regulating, it’s purely the fault of the FA for not controlling the PL as they should be, their lack of regulation is why an independent one is needed. If the regulator isn’t the answer to some of the ‘football issues’, whatever they are, then someone needs to stand up and get it sorted out sooner rather than later.
Three up, three down. Now the issue I don’t think he sees here is the stand-off between the PL and the EFL over TV money, yet quite happy to take PL money for the National League cup. But the NL want the movement between themselves and the EFL, rightly so in my opinion.
But to jump into bed and take PL money when surely they should be siding with the EFL to push this promotion place battle I don’t think is a good look and potentially harmful to the future.
Well, I hope you got to the end, let me know what you think in the comments below, plenty to digest in there!
