Neal Ardley says the National League’s hectic fixture schedule is “too much too soon” and believes it is far too demanding on teams at the lower levels.
Notts County play a mammoth 14 games in 56 days which started with the league’s opener at Eastleigh last weekend and was followed by a home clash against Stockport just 72 hours later.
Notts face Barnet tomorrow and are then back on the road again next Tuesday when they travel to Harrogate in what is a busy period for all teams in the division.
And Ardley feels there is too much pressure placed on sides down the pyramid especially when they do not have big enough squads to cope.
“I think it’s too much too soon,” he said.
“If you piled that on to the Premier League you would have all the major managers pulling their hair out.
“I know they have it with internationals and players jetting halfway across the world. That’s why they have to have big squads.
“But it’s far too much. I complained a couple of years ago when they used to have the league cup on the first Tuesday of the week and it went to extra time.
“You couldn’t put the team out you played on Saturday, because if you did and it went to extra time, I would lose players the following Saturday either to injury or a dip in performance level.
“I know why they put so many games early on because of the weather.
“But for some of these clubs who don’t carry big squads it’s extremely tough.
“I think it’s something that should be looked at.”
