A number of players hit out at the ‘absolute shambles’ that is the National League with PFA releasing a statement on contracts.
After a change in the rules for contracts involving players with injuries, the National League caused a stir among with captains of various clubs.
The new rule reads that injured players won’t receive their wages for 12 or six weeks if they are a National League North or South player.
If a player is still out injured, the club may reduce their wages until their fitness returns.
If the injured player’s club go against paying their player’s full wages, they can choose to do so after the initial 12 or 6-week period.
If the club does not wish to pay the full wage, they can choose to do so after the initial timescale of 12 or 6 weeks.
Boreham Wood forward Tyrone Marsh said: “This is an absolute shambles @TheVanaramaNL, you need to look yourself in the mirror.
“We are humans, who have families to look after not a puppet to entertain.
“What are you possibly thinking? This isn’t ok and will never be ok. Something needs to be done asap…!”
This is an absolute shambles @TheVanaramaNL you need to look yourself in the mirror. We are humans, who have families to look after not a puppet to entertain, What are you possibly thinking? This isn’t ok and will never be ok. Something needs to be done asap…! @PFA pic.twitter.com/LQHKmQZU91
— ™ (@Ty_marsh) March 21, 2023
Yeovil captain Josh Staunton was supportive of Marsh and are calling the captains of 20 other clubs involved in the National League and the North and South division to make their feelings heard.
Staunton said via Twitter: “We currently have 20 of the National League’s captains in contact with one another representing our team mates in hope of getting this matter resolved, allowing players to step foot onto the pitch next year without having to worry the risk of injury could financially cripple them.”
PFA STATEMENT:
From 1st July 2023, significant changes are being made to Non-League contracts.
The introduction of new Non-League contracts will affect the rights and salaries of players who are ill or injured, and the ability of clubs to terminate contracts if a player suffers a long-term injury.
The PFA was asked by the FA to provide feedback on these changes.
We worked constructively with the FA on this but, ultimately, informed them that the PFA cannot support the introduction of the new contract as we believe it is inferior to the current Non-League player contract.
We understand that the new conditions will apply to all new contracts, or renewed contracts (including extensions, variations or amendments to a current contract), signed on or after 1st July 2023.
What do players need to be aware of?
Under the current contract:
- If a player suffers an injury, they continue to be paid their full wages for the duration of their contract.
- A player’s contract can be terminated by their club, with notice, if they suffer permanent incapacity (as established by an independent medical examination).
Under the new contract:
‘Club sick pay’
If a player suffers a playing injury, they will only receive their full wages for 12 weeks (if a National League National Division player) or 6 weeks (if playing below the National League National Division).
If the player is still ill or injured after this initial period on full wages, the club can reduce their wages to Statutory Sick Pay until they are fit again. Statutory Sick Pay is currently £99.35 per week and is payable for up to 28 weeks. These new terms will be referred to in the new contract as ‘Club Sick Pay’.
This will automatically apply unless the club agrees that the player should receive their full wages for the full period.
To obtain the club’s agreement, the player must actively ‘opt in’ by ticking a check-box on the front page of the new standard contract.
Contract termination
In addition, under the terms of the new contract, a player’s contract can be terminated (with 3 months’ notice) if, in the opinion of a club-instructed medic, the player is unable through injury or illness to play for a period of four months.
The significant change here is that a player no longer needs to be permanently incapacitated to have their contract terminated – now it only requires a ‘long term’ injury. Also, it is a club instructed medic rather than an independent medic that makes the evaluation.
Understanding these changes
The PFA does not have an agreement in place with the FA or the League to represent National League players as their recognised trade union. However, our figures show that almost 80% of National League players are former PFA members, having at one point been professionals or professional scholars with EFL or Premier League clubs.
Unfortunately, we believe that the new Non-League contract represents a reduction in player rights and so it is important that players understand these changes and what they might mean for their rights from next season.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
Wowwwwwwwwww! That’s absolutely embarrasing!
— James Caton BA (Hons) (@James_Caton94) March 21, 2023
Wow!!! That’s an absolutely disgrace!! Don’t count on the @PFA thou,they forget about you the minute you aren’t in football league!!
— James Mckeown (@1Jamesmckeown) March 22, 2023
Just read this and it’s a disgrace, @PFA need to take action and protect players in the lower leagues, seen too many players get treated like dog sh** at that level, you sign a contract you should honour it regardless of injury, it’s professional league full time @TheVanaramaNL https://t.co/sGXiJbSwpU
— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1) March 22, 2023
Fans reacted as players hit out at the ‘absolute shambles’ that is National League as PFA release a statement on contracts…
@Memdozer: For those saying “welcome to the real world” in the comments, get in the bin. It’s nothing like your job. You don’t have an inherent risk to your wellbeing every time you go to work. You’re unlikely to be on a fixed contract for 1-2 years or living away from your family for work
@timsmartin06: It’s very harsh considering how easily a player could get injured, but it brings clubs in-line with the majority of employers in this country, many employees like myself don’t get sick pay we go straight on to SSP, I’m not for the change I’m just pointing out the facts. Fight it.
@F8RDR: That is outrageous. Get injured putting your body at risk in the job, get put on SSP and then terminated. Shocking.
@wellingtonboot: That is awful!
@bobbytomncfc: Surely this will force players to rush back from injury to make sure they get full pay, potentially risking themselves further
@stevejonesTRFC: Can you imagine this happening in the premier league 🤣😂
@MichaelAlexis85: Wow! What a joke! They are giving the clubs more power. I wonder why contracts in the premier league aren’t like this? 🤔
@salbre81: I don’t like this. Workplace injury is a higher risk than most jobs. But I presume you can still negotiate to have better coverage than this when signing a contract just like in any job
@marowe1988: Absolute shame on the national league board who are seemingly absolute muppets. The pfa represents anyone whose qualified for membership. Personally id get together with your fellow professionals and simply tell them youll withdraw your labour if they enforce it.
@Yidcradle2grave: Another example of the idiots in charge not having a clue 🙈🙈
@jacobwxmfc: Welcome to the real world, everyday working people have to deal with government sick pay. Any one on a decent wage like footballers should always be financially prepared for events such as injury end of
@natedigidy89: This is not a good look for the National League, basically giving clubs a way out of having to pay a 12 month contract for a player who suffers and ACL or similar injury.
@JoeDart22161245: Despicable changes, especially when we consider that the National League is still not covered by the PFA, so most players will not receive their support either.
@Terellmthomas: This is an absolute disgrace btw!!! @TheVanaramaNL players have families and livelihoods to maintain. There is always risk of injury playing football, just shows you don’t care about your players
@Paultelfordsmit: This cannot be true, if it is it’s shameful!
@RyanPvfcHales: Welcome to the real world, not saying it’s right for SSP but the everyday person gets that. You are more privileged than most
@SoR_rhys: As a football fan I find this absolutely shocking. Giving @TheVanaramaNL the right to sack players injured for more than 3 months and move them onto SSP after 6 to 12 weeks of being injured. I’m sure the @PFA are it for the 80% of players they represent at that level. Solidarity
@TheBigJord17: This is criminal. Guaranteed if the people making these decisions had to have surgery or off with long term sickness, they wouldn’t potentially lose their jobs. And with how good and competitive the NL has become.. this is hardly going to entice players to play at this level 🤦
@stellainchessy: This is appalling! Surely, in this situation, turning up to the club for assessment and rehab is ‘work’, even if they cannot play!
@goalkeeperdoyle: Football isn’t like other jobs for these guys, their careers are short by comparison, and rehabbing an injury is part of the job, it’s not the same as if someone in an office job gets ill and they don’t start work til they’re better, footballers work hard to get back from injury
@WillParf: Teams playing 3 times a week on dodgy pitches with a poor standard of ref who won’t protect the players. Long term injuries will continue to happen and now it’ll bankrupt people
You must be logged in to post a comment Login