I applaud Eastleigh for taking the brave decision to withdraw from the newly created National League Cup. I only wish my own team, Woking FC, had done the same thing.
In case you missed it, a new 32-club regionalised midweek competition has been created which will see 16 Premier League U21 teams take on 16 National League teams in a group stage/knockout format.
U21 Premier League sides like Newcastle are among those taking part in the National League CupGetty
It begins in October and runs through to April with the first round of fixtures including Tottenham, Stoke City and Newcastle United.
I can say with confidence right now that it will provide no benefits whatsoever to National League clubs and will more likely derail the ambitions of many of us.
In a joint statement from the Premier League and National League, it’s said that the competition is ‘designed to give young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development’.
The benefit for the non league teams involved is ‘an opportunity to play regular matches against the best Under-21 teams in England at their own stadiums, with this additional exposure intended to improve the playing and spectator experience, as well as the clubs’ growth and sustainability.’
They say National League Clubs will get to keep all the gate receipts, but the truth is they’ll probably be pretty scarce. Are people really going to be tempted out into cold November nights when the Champions League is on to watch what should probably be pre-season friendlies?
Most people I’ve spoken to have already called this out for what it is because they see it exactly for what it is. Training exercises for academy kids which will in turn burn out National League regulars in an already busy calendar.
We’ve all heard that before, sure, but the pressures are even more acute further down the pyramid.
Eastleigh claim that National League teams weren’t consulted before the decision was taken to launch this competition, and I can well believe that. After all, there was no consultation over the scrapping of FA Cup replays which served as ‘lottery wins’ for clubs at our level and which gave English football huge once-in-a-lifetime moments which sadly are now history.
If it means Woking can realise their promotion ambitions to the promised land of the EFL then I really hope we play our own academy kids in these games, even if it means getting thumped 12-0 every week.
There have been long held concerns that Premier League U21 teams will end up diluting the National League and the launch of this competition further fuels those fears. Never mind insulting our intelligence with another mickey mouse cup competition, give us back our FA Cup replays and while we’re at it…make the National League/League Two a ‘three up three down’ affair!
I could go on, but I’ll give the last word to Eastleigh who’ve put it perfectly: “If we truly value our football pyramid, which is often held up as something we should be proud of and unique then it is incumbent on the clubs to push back against developments that devalue our national sport something which we believe this cup competition does.”
Eastleigh statement in full
Eastleigh qualified but won’t enter the National Cup and put their statement across in six points
1. “National League teams currently receive no compensation or protection for our young players, some of whom would feature in this competition. Premier League and EFL clubs simply take these players that have often had many years development at our clubs, something they cannot do to each other. Providing these clubs with competitive games to then play these players or showcase more of them to be taken under these circumstances is completely illogical.
2. The financial reward for playing in the competition is negligible and is likely to cost the club some much-needed funds.
3. We don’t believe there is a huge demand for the competition from our supporters or any other National League club.
4. The fixtures are to be played between October and April which is a time in the season where the club would hope to be competing in the FA Trophy, FA Cup and mounting a challenge for the Play-offs/Promotion and to add more fixtures to this already busy schedule would be counter productive.
5. To fulfil these extra fixtures, the club would need to increase the size of its first team squad which would come at considerable cost to cover games that would provide no revenue to support this.
6. National League clubs were not consulted before the decision had been made by the National League in the same way that we were not involved in the removal of FA Cup replays recently. Both of these decisions have potentially huge financial implications for National League clubs and also for our supporters.
A number of other clubs have made the decision to not participate. If we truly value our football pyramid, which is often held up as something we should be proud of and unique then it is incumbent on the clubs to push back against developments that devalue our national sport something which we believe this cup competition does.
Lower league football provides huge enjoyment all over the country for thousands of fans, is a large employer, and providing vital experience along the way to thousands of people connected to the game many of whom subsequently achieve well paid, hugely rewarding jobs higher up the football pyramid.
Our clubs are being under-valued, and far too many have not survived in the game when there is more money than ever flowing into it. This needs addressing and this competition increases the huge divide which currently exists.
This competition which we feel benefits the richest in the game at the expense of the poorest, many of whom are fighting to survive so on balance we feel the right decision for clubs and fans at this level is to withdraw from the competition.”
