Jason Dodsworth has thrown his weight behind Chris Hilton’s comments by claiming that players expecting “big bucks” when football returns will get a rude awakening.
Dodsworth expects the majority of the clubs will refuse to bow to their demands.
The former Athersley Rec and Nostell joint manager, who is now part of the Maltby Main management team, is well aware of the existential crisis and hopes players understand the situation.
“Hilts is a friend and a fantastic manager who has done an outstanding job with limited resources at Stocksbridge and previously at Worsbrough and he was spot on with what he said,” Dodsworth told Non League Yorkshire.
“I really hope Stocksbridge and all the other clubs who are really struggling get support in some shape or form.
“It is a scary time for clubs and the revenue that clubs will have lost because of the current situation will make it impossible for a big majority to pay big bucks.
“A lot of players need to realise that when we do return that on wide-scale, there is a high chance that wages or expenses are either going to be zero or £20 here and there.
“Clubs are not going to put themselves at risk for players who are just there for four or six months. It was ludicrous before the break so it would be even more ludicrous when we return.
“You will see clubs refuse to go down that road. There will be still the odd club who will be able to pay the bigger figures. I’ve always said that if clubs have it, fair play to them. At the club I’ve worked for, I’ve never had a massive budget so I don’t know how know the other half live.
“It is the ones who blatantly lie and say they haven’t a big budget, but have because they wouldn’t have the calibre of players they have without a big budget that frustrate me.”
Dodsworth has also spoken of his admiration for Athersley’s founder and general manager Pete Goodlad and the club’s new first team boss Shane Kelsey.
Kelsey has pledged to continue Goodlad’s grand plan of fielding young local talent with a view to developing them – a project that began last season. Dodsworth expects other clubs to follow Athersley’s lead.
“Pete and Shane stuck by the youngsters last season and you can only have the upmost respect for them for doing that.
“Yeah they were learning and getting beat most weeks, but the clubs has its values. A club like Athersley is all made by volunteers and what Pete has done over the last 40 years. They have never had a money man throwing money at it.
“Athersley are going to stick with the youngsters again next season and I think for club’s like Athersley the current situation will make it a bit better for them.
“There will be more clubs doing the same. Non League football will go back to its roots and it can’t be a bad thing. The majority of players will be playing for the right reasons.
“I know there is a lot of travelling involved in the leagues we play in so it is nice to pay expenses, but for a lot of players these expenses aren’t there.
“Obviously I was never a player and I’ve never been paid for playing, but being a manager I have always believed I go to work Monday to Friday to earn my wage and manage on a Saturday as a weekend hobby.
“But what I would also say is that I know everyone’s wage is different so if people are offered money to play then fair enough. You can’t blame players for picking it up.”