National League funding crisis: ‘We’re meant to be elite – why haven’t we been treated the same as other elite leagues?’

Westleigh Park boss Paul Doswell described the board as ‘clowns’ at the weekend and called on them to resign for presiding over what Slough joint manager Jon Baker said was ‘an absolute shambles.’

Now Paul Cox, boss of National League North outfit Kettering, has joined in the criticism - admitting he feels ‘let down’ by the governing body regarding a lack of

The Poppies haven’t played a league game since drawing 2-2 at Boston United on January 5. After an initial two-week suspension of the National League North and South divisions, a number of clubs - including Kettering - have been unwilling to play due to the row over a lack of grants and the prospect of having to take out loans to keep them going for the remainder of the season while fans are not allowed in grounds.

It has meant the North division has come to almost a self-imposed halt - only four games have taken place since February 5 - while clubs vote on whether to scrap a pandemic-scarred campaign.

The Poppies have voted in favour of the season being declared null and void but the vote has caused divisions between those clubs who want to stop and those of wish to continue.

‘The whole thing has been a farce from start to finish,’ said Cox.

‘It looks as though there are more clubs who are voting with their feet and are not willing to participate and yet we are still going to have to wait for an outcome.

‘In all this time, clubs still have to pay money out and it adds more stress onto everybody.

‘The whole thing could have been dealt with in a better way but it looks like we are going to have to wait for it to come to a natural conclusion.

‘It’s been frustrating and it’s getting more frustrating. I have talked to a lot of managers who are sat there not knowing how to plan and what to do because we are living from day to day.

‘Everyone is trying to do the best they can but we need the people at the top to make big decisions and make them quickly. We need some guidance of where this is going to go.’

Cox added: ‘We all want to play football and we are all going to miss it if we have to stop, but the logical step would be to close it down until we can get things up and open again and fans are allowed back in.

‘It’s been a strange period and a lot has been talked about in terms of money but not so much about the health and wellbeing of those playing the game.

‘We are meant to be elite so why haven’t we been treated the same as other elite leagues?

‘The National League should have a board who are looking after the best interests of the teams who are in there but I am not too entirely sure that has happened.

‘In situations like this, we should lose the term ‘footballers’ because we are dealing with people.

‘We forget that these guys are normal people. I don’t think this is ‘elite’ at our level. Our players have got jobs and they haven’t been Covid tested.

‘Everyone is just looking for guidance and when the players look to me, I don’t have the answers.

‘We are all waiting for direction and all I can do is be professional and as human as possible when it comes to giving the players care and attention.

‘The last two weeks have been really strange and dragging it on is not good for the game at our level, no matter which way you look at it.

‘It’s frustrating but what can we do? I think we all feel a bit let down by the people who should be making the big decisions.’