Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane AFC manager Craig Elliott has agreed a one-year deal
Shaw Lane AFC manager Craig Elliott believes the constant refusal by Northern League clubs to accept promotion has wrecked the National League System.
He is calling for the Football Association to use their powers to bring in a “compulsory” promotion rule across the pyramid.
Because only three clubs have been promoted from the Northern League in the last nine years, the Evo Stik Division One South has had to look further and further south for its club.
It has meant clubs like Stocksbridge Park Steels and Shaw Lane have been separated from their rival Yorkshire sides in Division One North – meaning local fixtures are few and far between.
“We’re in the middle of it and it is bad,” Elliott told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is not fair on us and the Sheffield clubs because we have been left out on a limb.
“Promotion has got to be made compulsory because it is having a huge knock-on effect higher up the pyramid and in the FA Vase.
“It is no wonder why that the Northern League is so dominant in the FA Vase when it is becoming stronger and richer because clubs aren’t taking promotion.
“Not taking promotion makes a mockery of a league season. Something has to be done and I do agree with what (Spennymoor boss) Jason Ainsley said in the Non League Paper a few weeks ago.
“If you refuse promotion then you should not be allowed to enter the FA Cup and Vase in the following season.
“What happened with Evesham was also a joke because of how late it was done. I read about one manager who had signed players because he thought his club were going to be in the Premier Division. Then he was told they weren’t a few weeks later.”
On the team front, the Ducks have completed the signing of former Farsley Celtic centre-back Spencer Harris, who leaves Buxton to join the Barnsley-based side.
He is the fourth new face behind Darren Thornton, Danny Frost and Kieran Scargill. More are set to follow in the next ten days. One player has left in the last few days as left-back Luke O’Brien has decided to seek pastures new.
Elliott, who has agreed a one-year contract with Shaw Lane, also confirmed that the club have cut their cloth accordingly this summer.
He added: “The budget has been restructured.
“We’re not paying silly money, which we have never done anyway. But, it is a competitive budget and we want to be in the promotion race, looking to make up for last season.”