LIONS CHIEF: NOW SEIZE THE MOMENT
GUISELEY chairman Gary Douglas believes now is the time for big changes in the National League – starting with the installation of a more realistic wage structure.
Douglas says areas including player contracts, the league’s voting structure and travelling distance can be improved to help clubs in these times of reduced income.
He wants to see action to ensure the future of clubs at this level and says he has the backing of his rivals.
“I think National League North will see many changes when football is back,” he said. “I contacted the other chairmen in the league at the start of the pandemic saying this is a time we can use to take back control of wages and contracts.
“There are agents and players wanting money and contracts that aren’t suitable for this level of football. The pound will be hard to come by next season from sponsors, and clubs at all levels will suffer from attendance figures.”
Joint Lions’ bosses Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neil are looking to build on a ninth place finish this season and have nine players signed up with others still negotiating.
“I’m lucky that we have a management team that will stick to whatever budget we can provide,” Douglas said. “If I say the budget’s £1,000 a week, then we will get a team out for that. This way we can guarantee players contracts offered will be fulfilled. I trust them. We have to prepare as normal as much as possible for when the season returns.”
The lockdown period has been dominated by matters in the National League boardroom and Douglas thinks voting reform is needed to ensure that Step 2 clubs get a fairer representation.
Currently all 24 National League clubs get voting rights compared to just four for the Step 2 divisions.
“I think it’s grossly unfair that Step 2 clubs only get eight votes between them,” Douglas added. “Twenty-four clubs have 75 per cent of the power and it’s hard to get things through as a lower division club because of this.
“There does still need to be some weight towards the National League – otherwise you run the risk of the North and South dictating to the league above. A 2:1 weighted ratio would be better than one vote per club.”
Douglas also admits information from the National League throughout the pandemic has been sporadic at best but has sympathy for the underfire officials.
“Of course, there are things they could have handled better,” he added. “But it’s a chain reaction waiting for the EFL to decide and so on. In the circumstances they’ve done a good job.”
Douglas, though, agrees it’s time for a regionalisation at tiers three to six to cut travelling expenses and costs.
“To have a club like us travelling to places like Hereford and King’s Lynn and vice versa is ridiculous,” he added. “You can’t call us a northern league. Maybe there should be a Midlands league at Step 2. It’s worth looking at.
“There’s talk of League One and Two clubs who might be going to the wall so will National League be filling the gaps if they do?”