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What scrapping the UCL could mean for local clubs
YAXLEY chairman Jeff Lenton. Photo: Peterborough ET
YAXLEY chairman Jeff Lenton has blasted Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson over plans to axe the United Counties League.
Lenton is convinced the proposals would ‘put grassroots’ football back for many years’ if allowed to be pushed through.
They were announced only a month after Robertson spoke out in favour of the Football Association’s National Game Strategy which sets out to focus on strengthening and growing the game at grassroots level.
Lenton said: “The proposal to carve up and abolish the UCL Premier Division is poorly conceived, poorly researched and will put grassroots football back for many years.
“There were some bold words in the National Game Strategy from those who set the objectives and policies.
“But now their minions are proposing a reckless restructing that will cause the break-up of a core league and incur about 25,000 miles of additional travel for the clubs affected. That in a time of belt-tightening and carbon footprint reduction.
“Whilst my club is possibly one which could live with the possible changes, there are many more than won’t be able to.
“Why should they suffer because our national body has no understanding or feel for the grassroots clubs.”
Other respected figures on the local non-league scene have spoken out against the plans.
Holbeach manager John Chand and Spalding player-coach Danny Hussey - two men whose clubs would be worst affected by the new proposals after being placed in a North-East Division - are both dead-set against the idea.
The Tigers and Tulips will face trips as far north as Scarborough and Bridlington if the plans are pushed through while losing out on a host of local derby fixtures against other clubs from around here.
Chand said: “Moves like this will cripple some clubs in the current financial climate and that’s not on.
“I can see what the FA are thinking but if clubs are against it, they’ll find it hard to justify such changes.”
And Hussey added: “As someone who grew up in Holbeach and a player of Spalding, I’m dead against it.
“It’s not really financially viable for clubs, players or fans at this level and would lead to big problems.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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DonB
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 03:21 PMIt's bad for local referees too. The UCL has always been the first rung on the ladder to higher leagues.
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