NON-LEAGUE side Ware FC were top of the Isthmian League South Central Division — tier eight of the football pyramid — when the FA decided to cancel the season last month.
Manager Paul Halsey has a well-known brother in former Premier League referee Mark.
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Mark Halsey’s (left) FC Ware boss brother Paul (right) demands Premier League season is made null and void
SunSport’s PHIL CADDEN got the Halseys to reflect on the controversial call by FA chiefs.
MARK HALSEY: I was gutted when I heard the news, how are you feeling?
PAUL HALSEY: The FA made their decision far too early. It was harsh and irrational — they really should have waited until June.
MH: I remember when I played non-league we had fixture congestion due to bad weather and cup runs — but we played four games a week. What was the FA’s reasoning?
PH: No one knows yet. I hope the FA will come out and issue a statement to explain the decision.
MH: The FA could have monitored the coronavirus situation and decided at the end of April . . .
PH: If the decision was across the board from the Premier League to tier 11, we would have accepted. We know we’re in a world crisis and a lot of people are suffering and losing their lives.
Ware are affiliated to the FA but so are professional clubs in the top flight — like Arsenal. What’s the difference? You can’t have one rule for us and another for them.
We all know it’s about money and the £750million TV deal in the Premier League.
I’d feel for Liverpool if their season is null and void. But it’s not just Liverpool, it’s Leeds, West Brom, Coventry and so on. We all have the same feeling.
If it’s null and void at my level, it has to be the same elsewhere. But the authorities don’t give a toss about us.
MH: What message has the FA sent to non-league football?
PH: A lot of people in non-league think the FA don’t care about us. Am I wrong in saying that? I don’t think so.
It’s them and us. How can they say to non-league, ‘You mean nothing’ but the Premier League has a chance of playing as there’s £750m at stake?
Our fans and sponsors could think, ‘Why am I spending money on Ware if the FA can pull the plug when they want?’ It leaves a bad taste.
Paul Halsey says Ware FC have been hit hard financially amid the coronavirus crisis
MH: I know Ware are one of 150-plus clubs to sign a petition, do you think the decision will be overturned?
PH: FA chiefs need to be sensible and overturn their decision but that won’t happen because we know what the FA are like. Coronavirus isn’t anyone’s fault in football — but the FA’s decision will have major repercussions on non-league clubs.
If the FA do make funds available it should go to non-league clubs first. Stuff the Premier League.
MH: What impact will calling off the season have on Ware?
PH: It’s massive financially. Our club is shut and the revenue has gone.
We have a 4G pitch and it’s rented out every day. Age groups train and play on it while we hire the clubhouse out for social events.
That’s where the income comes from. It’s a community football club and most of the staff are volunteers.
We used to have crowds of 40, but now our average is 173.
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MH: Do you fear clubs will go bust this summer?
PH: Yes, 100 per cent. We’re lucky that we don’t have players on contracts — we pay expenses of between £60 and £150 a week.
But clubs at our level do offer contracts. I’m hoping clubs can survive but the FA need to put together a package for them.
MH: How about your future because you have a normal job in the week?
PH: I work for Mears Group and manage 19 engineers. We look after boilers, gas and central heating for 8,000 properties.
It’s hard juggling both jobs, but the day job pays my mortgage. The company knows I’m a football manager and need flexibility so if I have a midweek game, I make up the time another day.
MH: How do you feel personally because this is the club’s best season since reaching the FA Cup first round against Kidderminster in 2007?
PH: I’m gutted. I’ve put in a lot of time and work to get us into a better division. It’s the best position the club has been in for a long time so it’s very disappointing.
We were the leaders and had a good chance of the double. But even if we were mid-table, or in the relegation zone, I’d still be asking the same questions — and we need answers.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
