DEEP POCKETS OF THE SOUTH!

BY MY reckoning, this season will be my eighth managing in National League South —and it’s the most exciting it’s ever been.

- Spencer DAY

More than half of the teams are full-time now, many with monstrous budgets, so for a club like Farnborough, this becomes the biggest challenge we've ever faced.

In this most horrific economic climate, this level of Non-League football - and even the level below — seems to be one of the growth areas where money is floating around like you wouldn’t believe.

Without exaggeration, there will be a minimum of £8 million that will be lost in the National League South next year, in players’ wages alone, because only two teams go up.

At Eastbourne, the chairman put out a statement last season admitting it cost him £1m last year in wages, on top of the income. Staggering sums of money and from a business point of view, it’s absolute insanity.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s very exciting. I mean what a division it’s going to be.

With the greatest of respect, no-one is talking about the National League right now, or National North, it’s all about the South.

Chelmsford announced a seven-figure sponsorship deal recently, good on them! Same with Marc White at Dorking, multi millions. Now Salisbury have been taken over by new Kuwaiti owners! Congratulations to them all. It’s great for the division.