Hereford’s manager argues football’s financial divide demands a rethink to protect non-league clubs who produce talentIt feels strange to say this now, but early in my playing career I would look down on the National League. It was known as the Conference then, and there was a perception that it bore no comparison to the standard in the Football League. Few people would voluntarily take a step down to that level.Now everything has changed. I would go as far as saying that the top flight of the National League is of a higher standard than League Two. The final weekend of the season looks tantalising: Stockport will be guaranteed to go up if they draw with FC Halifax Town and,...
Administration can strike at the very heart of a community, no matter what level of football it involvesWhen your club are on the edge of an abyss, it can shape your attitude towards football. In 2008, I was playing for Bournemouth when we started to hear things weren’t right. Our wages were being paid late and rumours began flying around the place. We had a meeting with the hierarchy and our fears were confirmed: we were going into administration.I was 24 and had just taken out a mortgage for the first time. I had to borrow money to keep up with payments, while many of my teammates had mouths to feed at home. It was a turbulent period: we had...
In the first of a regular column the National League North manager discusses recruitment and trying to get ahead of rivalsWhen I am interviewing prospective signings for Hereford FC, one of the best questions is the shortest one: “Why?” I want to know why they are sitting in front of me, why their career has taken them down this path and why they think we would be a good match. We speak about their personality, their background and their ambitions. It is all designed to see whether they buy into what we are trying to do, and whether they have the right mentality for our environment. Related: New football season promises renewed lust for life and more off-pitch strife |...