Tytherington Rocks manager Jake Edwards has slammed the idea of a wage system in step-six football, despite any added quality in may add to the leagues.
“For me it spoils it, and it doesn’t just spoil it in our league, it spoils it higher up. There are teams two leagues above us that haven’t got the same size budget as some of the teams in our league. How do they go and get better players if players don’t have an ambition to play higher?
“They can get paid more to do less travelling, because they’re happy to sit in our league. That’s up to them, that’s down to their morals and ambition. As a whole it ruins it because it’s not a competitive playing field.
Edwards went on to describe a lack of tactical prowess that amounts due to these financial problems, fearing what is to come for the lowest of football leagues.
“It’s not a battle of wits between managers, or how good your coaching ability is, the strength in your playing squad, because players can be bought for £200 a game, £180 a game and, I don’t blame anyone for taking the money, but clubs are willing to do it and there are some owners who want to buy into this level of football to fulfil their ego a little bit.”
As for Tytherington themselves, The Rocks currently sit in 20th place, and are winless in ten games. Edwards discussed the problems over the course of the first-half of the season.
“The season has not gone to plan, with multiple injuries to regular first-team players, which hasn’t helped when it comes down to results. We probably are where we should be, where a club like ours is aiming to be, just trying to survive relegation.
“The squad of players this season have given it everything they’ve got and have been good, we’ve just been unfortunate with a list of injuries that are long term to regular players.”
Tytherington’s next opponent, Brislington, offers an interesting test for Edwards’ side, as he describes the previous 0-0 between the sides was nothing short of a miracle.
“We got a red card after 17 minutes, we defended just exceptionally after the red card. We defended really well, deep and compact, and made it really hard for them to beat us in one-on-ones. The longer the game went on, and with the quality of their squad, the frustration was starting to grow.
“Unfortunately the task it takes to concentrate for 90 minutes with the defensive display we put in, to ask for that again out of the lads would be harsh. So we’ve just got to be on our game, and see if we can get them on a day where they’re probably on an off day – that’s our aim really.
Regardless of the situation at the club, Edward’s repeat appraisal from the beginning remains the same – how strong the squad’s togetherness is.
“It’s easy to be together when you’re winning. Anyone in a top seven of any league with 20 teams, its easy to keep players happy. We’ve suffered some big losses this season, and we’re still getting 20 players available every week, or coming to training.
“That’s been my take-away really, the players still want to play for Tytherington Rocks.”
