AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth believes clubs , including his own , who are affected by cricket should be forced to play at home on a Friday or Sunday in the first month of the season .
Emley have yet to play a Saturday league game and they are without a weekend fixture for the third week running tomorrow . Their first Saturday home game is on October 8th . Because of the volume of clubs who share their facilities with cricket is more than normal , the Division One schedule was difficult to produce . But Hepworth believes a solution needs to be found .
Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire : “ It feels like we are in a midweek league and it is so difficult not having a game on a Saturday .
“ It is something we are going to have to fix , certainly for next season . I know it is not helped here because of the cricket which takes priority , but surely we can play either away or on a Friday or Sunday .”
“ We have got to work around it . Granted one we were due to play Brigg until they got through in the FA Cup on one of the three Saturdays , but it is making it hard for the team and the club .” down and if Saturday afternoons aren ’ t an option then they should insist that clubs play on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon .”
Hepworth also admitted that he has been shocked by the number of manager departures in the past two weeks .
It has been like the night of the long knifes , without any sackings , as Karl Rose ( Frickley Athletic ), Brian Johnston ( Armthorpe Welfare ), Lee Ashforth ( Harrogate Railway ) and Graham Nicholas ( Nostell Miners Welfare ) have all quit their posts .
“ There is so much that comes down from the top of the game to grassroots like the boots players wear , the behaviour that you see and I think the high expectation levels come down too ,” Hepworth said .
“ The expectation at grassroots level to win things is in some cases unrealistic . Managers at this level literally do work seven days a week , when it is meant to be a hobby .”
“ There is so much pressure put on managers and coaches and it doesn ’ t surprise me that we have seen managers walking away . The level of stress that goes with the job is probably
Darren Hepworth more than it is for a day-job .
“ We have been training on a Saturday , but everyone “... frustrated “ I have a lot of friends in the
wants ...” game and it is tough to see some of them not getting to play . We ’ ve all been at work recognition for it or seeing them all week and we want to play . forced to walk away .” “ I do have a lot of sympathy for the league because of the volume of clubs affected by cricket . But I think the league and secretaries need to sit