WE FORMED A UNITED FRONT
AS FOOTBALL managers we’re never really off the phone. But it feels like the last few weeks have been busier than ever.
As a group of National League South managers, we have got to know each other more than ever during this period – it’s been quite refreshing.
Usually we’re rivals on the touchline trying to get one over each other. But, when it comes down to it, we all want the best for our teams. We’ve all been united in a common goal of getting our play-offs played. We’ve been constantly swapping calls and messages. It’s been serious but we’ve all had a bit of a laugh together as well. And I’m convinced some managers can’t sleep judging by the time a couple of them have tried to call me!
The National League have put the play-offs at our level back on the table and I couldn’t be more pleased. In my opinion, common sense has prevailed. My campaigning all along has been for us to be treated exactly the same as the National League and have the play-offs. We said we’d wait to follow the EFL so it is only right and proper we do that.
Game changer
It’s been a lot of hard work by us all to argue for this, especially when we were told government guidelines might not let us participate.
But people have pulled up trees. Havant & Waterlooville manager Paul Doswell got their local MP involved and he spoke to the Minister of Sport. That really was a game changer.
Marc White over at Dorking Wanderers was pushing the cause online with live video chats, Jerry Gill at Bath did his interviews, while Neil Baker at Slough has sorted the Covid testing for all the clubs. He’s got a really good rate – less than half of what we thought we were going to have to pay.
Really the expense comes from the wages each club has to pay. We will all carry on talking to each other, throwing ideas around and liaising because we have got to submit our plans to the National League to make sure we tick all the right boxes.
Here at Dartford, Jack Smedley and Tony Burman have put together a really good document to make sure we are doing everything right. We’ll be sure to hit all the medical targets.
The last three months have brought a whole range of emotions. At some points it’s looked like we had a chance of playing, then they looked to be off the table, and now things are looking brighter once again. What people might not realise is that when football runs deep in your life, it affects everything. I am only a football manager. I don’t have another business. This is what I do.
So when you’re working hard to try and achieve something, your emotions change everything in day-to-day life.
Bounced ideas
Meeting the protocols won’t just happen by magic, but they are manageable. A lot of it is common sense and following the government guidelines.
We had a really positive Zoom meeting with the National League on Friday. As we said on the call, we need some guidance from them as well and then we will put the work in.
Notts County have shared their protocol document which we have all been able to read and is a great help to make sure we can satisfy the league.
So now we can start thinking about getting back out there. The National League have told us we will be allowed to name an extra substitute on the bench – five outfield players and one goalkeeper. We will be allowed to make five subs in the game, much like the Premier League. There are still conversations to be had about the loan players who were with us when the season was halted back in March. But that’s something we can work on. In a funny way, I’ve really enjoyed this whole exercise. I’ve spoken to a lot of managers over this, both in my league and in the National League North. We’ve all bounced ideas off each other. One minute we’re rivals, the next we’re all getting along. We’ll see how many conversations we have when the play-offs get closer!