“A significant loss” – Dorking’s Marc White ‘nails it’ reacting to FA Cup replays being scrapped to please the Premier League’s elite clubs.
The FA Cup will no longer have replays from the first round proper with fixtures now set to be played exclusively on weekends.
The FA and the Premier League revealed they have reached a new agreement for a minimum of six years to “strengthen” the competition with “new and exclusive calendar windows”.
He said: Well not surprised because um if the FA are involved in topline decision making for football in the UK but um incredibly uh taken back by such a gigantic decision on what is the biggest competition in the world and probably England’s greatest legacy so um really disappointing
Interviewer: So Marc were the lower league clubs consulted at all before this decision?
Marc: Well it’s not just lower league clubs it’s all clubs I mean there’s probably barely any clubs if any that make a profit all of these clubs up to the Championship if you like are you know there’s somebody putting in money um hard earned money there’s someone working really hard so you’ve got all the clubs at lower level significantly affected and clubs in the Football League themselves that have lost this incredible opportunity that their fans have every season um and obviously a revenue opportunity as well uh that everybody kind of hangs on to every year in a very difficult industry to make end’s meet.
Interviewer: And Marc we know that you’ve helped build Dorking from the ground up just explain a little bit more if you can how much lower league clubs really do rely on the finances from cup runs it you know keeping keeping on going
Marc: Well ordinarily lower league clubs are run by volunteers and local sponsors and individuals putting in money to to keep them alive and to keep the community hub that these clubs are and the FA Cup just gives an opportunity financially uh to lighten the burden and actually create great moments to improve the stadium as a result of it to to put more money into the youth section of the club whatever that looks like so it’s a significant loss it’s obviously another example of whereby the Premier League continue to want to dominate the decision making of the FA and impact others I see in the announcement that they talk you know very almost you know crassly about the extra revenue they’re going to put into the game almost justifying what they know they’re taking away from the Legacy there’s no amount of millions they can put into fan experiences there’s no amount of millions that will last a lifetime of replays being ditched, you know the TV money gained from replays, the prize money game from replays it’s a significant thing and is disappointing from my personal point of view um I’m extremely disappointed in the FA it stands for you know for all is what it says on their website but this is actually a decision taken the minority have driven a huge decision and it’s affected an awful lot of clubs across the country today
Interviewer: And Marc from the fans perspective because we saw the likes of Maidstone reaching the FA Cup fifth round do you think this is actually going to deny fans some of what could be their greatest moments
Marc: Yeah I mean one of the biggest things that still gets talked about now about the FA Cup with the decision to take semi finals away from neutral grounds and put them at Wembley which was a huge dent in the fan experience and to this day if Newcastle plays Sunderland in the FA Cup semi-final the fans have to pay 400 for a weekend in London so we often see the fans getting put second uh my understanding was that Independence was being introduced into the FA into key decision making it definitely doesn’t look like there’s been consultation or independence in this type of decision fans are now denied these once in a lifetime opportunities we got beat by Horsham last season they went on to have an amazing once in a lifetime experience playing Barnsley away from home and then a TV game and a replay at Horsham and this is where yet again the fan gets put second which is what the national game is built on
Interviewer: And is this just sure that it’s all about money then and fans just really aren’t taken into consideration
Marc: It’s all it’s 100% all about money that’s why in the press release all they couldn’t wait to do was say how much more money the Premier League are going to put into football I think I don’t think anyone denies that the Premier League share their wealth around football and it’s great that they do but they’ve also got a job to protect the legacy of the game as well think this is really shortsighted um I don’t think it should have been agreed through the FA and what we’re seeing here is the football fan and the humble clubs those clubs that really do struggle to get by that work on behalf of their communities what we’re seeing are those all of those put second
Interviewer: And Marc the changes have come around because of the increased games in Europe do you understand that something had to give
Marc: No not at all, couldn’t care less you know it’s about the game uh in this country it’s about what it stands for in England and you know it’s the national game supported by thousands of clubs across the land and the the FA Cup is our most legacy of competitions um and I feel like it’s extremely disappointing and also there’s an element of the Premier League you know threap if you like in terms of getting their sort of mix if you like on more and more decision making it’s not okay in my book I’d love to understand what level of Independence and consultation uh this went through um because I’m pretty confident as a football club owner that if you asked all owners from you know League One, League Two and below in non league football whether they wanted to ditch things they would say absolutely not
In a statement, EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “The EFL notes today’s joint announcement from the FA and Premier League regarding the removal of FA Cup replays and wider calendar changes.
“Whilst the League had previously been involved in discussions over the future of the calendar, these were predicated on the agreement of a new financial deal with the Premier League for EFL Clubs which has not progressed.
“This is frustrating and disappointing given the calendar is a shared asset across football and as we have consistently said a whole game approach is required to find solutions to complex fixture scheduling challenges.
“Our domestic calendar has been put under extreme pressure by the expansion of UEFA competitions and ultimately this represents another lost traditional revenue stream for EFL clubs at a time when the financial gap between the biggest clubs and those further down the pyramid is growing bigger than ever. We will now be discussing the implications for EFL clubs and seeking appropriate compensation arrangements.”
FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham on FA Cup changes: “The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest into the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future.
“This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.
“The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.
“We have also agreed new funding for the grassroots game, disability football and the women’s and girls’ game. All football begins at the grassroots, and this is recognised by the Premier League with very welcome additional financial support.”
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith on FA Cup replays being scrapped: “It’s a huge call because it’s part of the tradition of the FA Cup.
“If you think of iconic moments, smaller clubs taking big teams back to their place or earning a big trip out is such a big factor and the ‘magic of the Cup’.
“We had Cray Valley PM this season going to Charlton and bringing them back to their stadium in Eltham. That’s what you want to see in the early rounds of the FA Cup.”
Fans reacted as Dorking’s Marc White ‘nails it’ reacting to FA Cup replays being scrapped…
@griffiths_tom41: It is time for Alex Horne, Debbie Hewitt and Mark Bullingham to step down? The @FA are not acting in the best interests of football clubs, supporters or the game.
@LChinery7: Marc White … the voice of reason for 99% of clubs in England. I did not have that on my bingo card for 2024!
@HPMindfulness: Brilliant from Marc, came across really well and made some very good points
@AFC_TayTay: All we literally do in this country is make decisions time and time again that hurt the little guys are game is so corrupt and pandered to the elite. If they are gonna do this they should make it tht until a certain round all games are played at the lower league team.
@DylanBregman: Spot on from the gaffer. Taking a massive opportunity away from lower league clubs.
@MartCAFC45: Spot on mark . They moan about schedules then jet off round the world on pre season tours £33m doesnt even scratch the surface. Not even £1m for each club
@ehimen_junior: Marc White is a top man who cares about the fans and community, not just his pockets. This is going to have a massive impact on lower league clubs, bringing in money to run their clubs. People’s jobs will be on the line. Replays ensure lower league clubs have money for years.
@ehimen_junior: Maidstone entered the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage, won seven matches to reach the fifth round. They collected £351,375 in prize money alone. They have also earned extra from television, that’s around £700,000 before tax. They are sorted for years to come. #FACup
@ar1345777533: I really hope the FA rethink this because it’s a horrendous decision they’ve taken
@AlanJepson15: Terrible decision… one of the great things about the FA Cup…
@Seenedavid: Has a very good point
@john_acko: Nailed it Marc, the FA pandering to the premier league who continually whine about too many games yet think nothing about flying around the world playing friendlies
@sonningmovement: FA used to stand for ‘For All’…. We all know now what the F stands for really….
@SpecksRSC: Good to see Sky getting Marc White on, always speaks sense. Especially talking about fans and clubs having memories practically ripped away. As every club in non league dreams of getting an away tie against a giant or scraping a draw at home then getting the incredible away trip at a bigger stadium seeing your local club there.
@charliegamble__: Spot on analysis from Marc as usual. A completely unacceptable decision for the heritage of FA Cup football in this country and the non-league clubs with aspirations to achieve! #againstmodernfootball
@hbrooks_coach: Marc is spot on. It’s a disgrace this has been allowed to happen, but no surprise because the FA and the Premier League as organisations are as useful as a chocolate teapot and as bent as a butchers hook. Yet again the elites looking after themselves to the detriment of the 99%
