This post has already been read 539 times!
Tonbridge Angels have recently switched to a 3G pitch
The boss of a lower league football club has expressed concern about the "inequality" of funding in the sport as smaller clubs attend a summit on the new Football Governance Bill.
Lower-tier clubs from across the country will meet at AFC Wimbledon, south-west London, to discuss the legislation, which will see new rules for the regulation of football.
Non-league clubs would like to see a fairer distribution of funds throughout the English and Welsh pyramid, and are calling for FA Cup replays to not be scrapped.
Dave Netherstreet, the joint president of Tonbridge Angels FC, who play in the sixth tier of football, said: "There is great inequality when it comes to distribution of the funding.
"In the National League South (sixth tier), every thousand pound of the broadcast money that Premier League clubs get, we get 14p. The divide gets wider every year."
Mr Netherstreet also paid tribute to Maidstone United's FA Cup heroics this season, which saw the club make about £800,000 in revenue after reaching the fifth round.
The money will enable the club to replace its artificial surface.
Maidstone United made enough money to re-lay their artificial pitch after their FA Cup run
However, lower tier clubs say they will lose valuable opportunities to boost revenue with the scrapping of FA Cup replays, following a vote by Premier League clubs.
"Prize money for grassroots clubs is crucial and it can boost a club," Mr Netherstreet said.
"I don't think the FA realise it. Will the prize money make much of a difference to Manchester City? No."
The Football Governance Bill, which is set for its second reading in Parliament on later, would grant powers to a body, independent of government and football authorities, to oversee clubs in the top five men's tiers.
The Premier League, which has been accused of taking much of the proceeds from the sport, has been approached for comment.
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Football Governance Bill fear for survival of 'small clubs'
Bill introduced to establish football regulator
West Ham owner Sullivan opposes football regulator
Football Governance Bill
Tonbridge Angels
Hundreds rally against 2,000 home plan next to uni campus
Support for tougher measures on sale of ‘addictive’ vapes to kids
'Soulless' plans for 15 homes on horse field get green light
£22,000 diamond necklace snatched in Sevenoaks – Faversham man arrested
Makeover transforms clifftop Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne
Stalker taunted schoolgirl with ‘sickening’ Snapchat messages about brother’s murder
Cynthia voted for Nelson Mandela. Now she's abandoning his successors
Nicki Minaj arrested at Amsterdam airport
Uvalde families sue Meta, video game creator and gunmaker
The politician, the astrologer and a murder that changed the law
Veteran sketch artists have never seen a trial like Trump's
No sign Israel will change course after Gaza ruling
Rain, running and red: Photos of the week
Jodi Picoult: ‘It’s not a badge of honour to be banned’
An Indian tale of love and sisterhood unfolds at Cannes
Family opens back garden to 50,000 festival-goers
Understanding compassion and vulnerability
Rapper Rexx Life Raj discovers the power of compassion in every area of his life
The road to becoming Furiosa
How Anya Taylor-Joy geared for the role of Furiosa in George Miller's spectacular Mad Max prequel
Laugh through the recent history of technology
Stand-up comedian Aurie Styla charts his personal relationship with machines of past, present and future
'There was an energy here that brought something out in me'
The definitive story of Tina Turner's 50-year relationship with Britain in her own words
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.