Southern League appearance fees

[YeltzBaggieNick]

I was talking to my son yesterday discussing wages and fees at various levels of the Pyramid. I know that National League level is when half decent wages start to get paid but does anyone know what footballers at our level are paid? It probably varies wildly but does anyone have a ball-park (sorry to use an Americanism) figure?

[andy]

You are probably right with 'varies wildly'. I would suggest anything from expenses only up to any ridiculous figure a kamakazi owner is prepared to pay to bring in a big name. It's not unheard of on the rumour mill of ex league players getting £8/900 a week at our level. National League wages are approx £1000 to £1500 average and North and South £750. Those figures are fairly well known. So I guess you could hazard a guess from that at our level.

[YeltzBaggieNick]

Thanks for replying Andy.

I heard rumours of a couple of hundred quid a match for some of our lot but not sure. Makes you wonder how much Kettering would be paying Nile Ranger.

[Dazzie76]

Does make you wonder what some teams are paying out Spalding we all know are paying big bucks but when teams like Telford saying they can't offer anywhere close to what Harbrough offered to Riley o sullivan it certainly must be a few quid.

[YeltzBaggieNick]

Interesting as there seems to be no regulation in terms of players fees/wages. Particularly highlighted by, amongst others, Billericay Town and the shambles with their owner. I remember about twenty or so years back when the then Bilston Town owner had aspirations of National League football (Conference then) when they were in the Dr Martens Western division (same level as Yeltz now) with crowds of 150 and they were paying Martyn Naylor (brother of Wolves Lee Naylor) 250 a week - seemed like silly money then!

[fairweatherfan]

Rumours abound that Rob Morgan has gone to Harborough for £1400 a week! I’m fairly sure I heard Karen say at one game that a top striker in this league commands around £1000 a week… absolutely crazy amounts for part time!

[YeltzBaggieNick]

It appears that as well as wildly varying fees between clubs in the same league there's also wildly varying fees paid to players within the same club! Makes me wonder what we paid Yusuf for doing next to nothing. All very interesting and you certainly can't blame players at this level for moving to clubs which pay the highest fee.

[piearce9]

I would say that Step 3 is a good level for players to be at, as they’ll get paid a decent wage, the travelling isn’t half as bad as Step 2, and of course for many this is their pocket money in addition to a main source of income.

I daresay there are players in this squad who could have played higher but would rather not have the commitment. Most Step 1 teams are full time (and plenty in Step 2) which means players have to do away with their jobs and so they can be worse off in the process.

[andy]

Interesting as there seems to be no regulation in terms of players fees/wages. Particularly highlighted by, amongst others, Billericay Town and the shambles with their owner. I remember about twenty or so years back when the then Bilston Town owner had aspirations of National League football (Conference then) when they were in the Dr Martens Western division (same level as Yeltz now) with crowds of 150 and they were paying Martyn Naylor (brother of Wolves Lee Naylor) 250 a week - seemed like silly money then!

It has been the ruin of many clubs. Nuneaton seemed to manage it every other year. I'm so glad we are now so well run.

[optimist1]

Whatever salaries players are on it has to be sustainable. Sometimes promotion from Step 3 to Step 2 isn't always a money spinner.
Look at what happened to clubs like Concord Rangers, Bishops Stortford, Banbury, Kettering, Telford and Leamington recently, to name just a few. Although the Brakes probably are an exception with Hollers in charge.
The NLN will probably see Rushall and Needham relegated back in our league with Radcliffe and Warrington back to the NPL.
I know a player who works 5 days full time and it'd be impossible for him to leave his job with today's cost of living.
Any aspirations Harborough and Spalding have could may well be their downfall like we've seen at Nuneaton and Coalville.