There’s never a quiet day in the office for the National League, is there?
This week, the FA announced a bombshell around non-league player contracts that has left supporters of non league clubs but particularly the players themselves completely aghast.
The proposed changes, coming in from July 1st, will see National League players with long term injuries or sickness only paid in full for 12 weeks - before being left with statutory sick pay payments of just £99 per week after that. Players in step two and below will only be paid in full for six weeks!
In addition, if a club appointed medical official deems a player as being unable to ply their trade for more than four months, then the club can rip up their contract with just three months notice.
Just weeks after the case for three up, three down began gathering pace, and while the ink still dries on the government’s regulatory white paper, this move represents a huge backwards step for the non league game in my opinion.
Firstly, it erodes the existing rights of the players - who already cannot receive representation by the Professional Footballer’s Association. Given the huge backlash from National League players on social media, there was clearly no consultation with them before this move was made - one that could impact their careers significantly.
In addition, it represents a huge loss of job security for these players, who could see their livelihoods destroyed by one moment of misfortune on the pitch.
Current and former Chesterfield players such as Kabongo Tshimanga, Manny Oyeleke and Danny Rowe, who have all had long term injuries or illnesses while at the club, could all have potentially faced unemployment if they did not have the existing protections within their contracts. From the 1st of July, that safety net for them and countless other players in the National League system will have disappeared.
Thirdly - and this may just be my opinion - but I believe that football clubs have a moral obligation to advocate for their players, who put their bodies on the line week in, week out. We’ve heard of the long term health problems suffered by the likes of Spireite legends Ernie Moss, Drew Talbot, Tommy Lee and countless other players both during and after their playing careers, and all that to earn - let’s face it - a modest income compared to the stars of the Premier League.
The least we can do for these players is offer them security, the knowledge that their livelihoods will be protected and that the club will stand by them during their rehabilitation rather than tossing them aside like a broken toy.
I’m by no means accusing Chesterfield of adopting this attitude, by the way - and I would hope and expect a community run club to be just as appalled by these changes as the supporters in the terraces.
But the changes offer the more unscrupulous owners - the Ron Martins of this world - the opportunity to save a few quid. Can we trust them not to take it for morality’s sake?
As for the National League, I think this change represents a huge crossroads. Does the league advocate for keeping the old rules, and begin to align itself more closely to the EFL, or does it set itself further apart - in which case, does it even deserve 3 promotion spots to the football league?
With July fast approaching, the clock is ticking for them to decide…
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