Is player greed to blame for lull?

 

The normally bustling silly season has seen a dearth in player movements and one manager has spoken out about the normally unspoken topic of player wage demands.

 

“Players want money to join clubs and it seems worse this summer,” said Four Crosses boss Nick Popyk. “We are struggling to bring in any new faces, especially in the goalkeeping department.

 

“The first thing they seem to be asking when you speak to them is ‘how much?’. One keeper I spoke to got paid £20 a game last season over the border to sit on the bench and another was paid £10 a game to play for a reserve team and they are happy because it is extra beer tokens. I would have thought players wanted to play at the highest possible level?

 

“I spoke to a third keeper who wanted £40 a game and he has been playing for a team in the Shropshire Alliance, the lowest tier. It is an absolute nightmare when lads in lower leagues are asking for money. I don’t know what has changed in recent seasons. Is it players getting greedy or is it a lack of ambition from certain younger players?”

 

Popyk insists his club is one of the few in Spar football that does not have a playing budget but says his club makes up for it in the way it looks after its players.

 

“We have good facilities and really look after our lads,” he said. “The Spar Division 2 is a decent standard. I understand there is a bit of travelling in our league but the club provides a bus for the long journeys and we make the most of the trip back.” 

 

Popyk’s keeper crisis has been caused by a broken ankle suffered by regular No.1 Gaz Wilson with his back-up also ruled out through Saturday work commitments.