Step 2 clubs treated as second class citizens

Leamington chairman Jim Scott has backed Hemel Hempstead chairman David Boggins who has argued that Step 2 clubs are out on a limb.

A majority of Step Two clubs voted in favour of a no confidence resolution in National League chairman Brian Barwick at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday, but they didn't carry enough weight to be successful.

Scott told The Non-League Paper: 'A lot of the clubs voted as a protest vote.  They were voting for different reasons, but they knew it was almost certain all the National League clubs wouldn't do the same - turkeys don't vote for Christmas, and the National League clubs want control.'

'At the moment we are effectively second-class citizens - we have no voting power, our votes are worthless.' He hopes that new National League general manager Mike Ives can be a catalyst for change.

'Mark is on top of that, he understands that.  He recognises there needs to be a more equitable distribution of voting power.'

'It isn't good for the National League to have the whole second tier unhappy with their input to the running of the organisation.  It's very important to see if we can do a reset and get a more equitable governance of the league.'

'My view is that Mark Ives will form some sort of working group that looks to address some of the concerns of Step 2 clubs.'