Paul Doswell on the future of football in the lower division

[taylov]

Excellent full page article in NLP today from Mr Doswell - I've just picked up on some of his main messages.

On wages- "Its going to be like a tsunami coming in non-League football and in League One and Two.  Thousands of players are going to be released from L1, L2 & National league clubs.  They are going to be desperate to get a club."

"My honest opinion is that clubs will hardly be able to pay any wages. The days of non-league players earning £700 to £900 a week and L1/2 players earning £1500-£2000 a week are finished.  You are looking at less than half those figure".

"Club chairmen have seen their main business' shut down.  Sponsorship deals will be the first thing to go...and at our level we depend on it".

Doswell sees greater regionalism as one answer. Make L1/2 and the National League structure a set of regional leagues. Reduce travel costs to clubs and fans - more local derbies which will attract better attendances.

[back4more]

Fully agree with that for the National League and L2. L1 might still need to have national coverage to get the TV cameras to turn up and keep the interest from national sponsors. The BT TV coverage might go but not sure if the clubs make much money from hosting them anyway.