South and North clubs are treated like ‘absolute peasants’ by the National League

Hawks manager Paul Doswell. Photo by Dave Haines

Paul Doswell has launched a scathing attack on the National League.

The Hawks boss labelled the governing body a 'shambles' and has called on the board - led by chairman Brian Barwick - to resign for their handling of the vote to decide the outcome of the 2020/21 season.

Doswell is convinced that both National League South and North divisions will be declared 'null and void' while the National League will continue.

He claims the 43 clubs in the sixth tier of the English pyramid are treated like 'peasants' by the league authority.

And he feels the National League are in the midst of the 'biggest PR disaster they've ever faced' as a pandemic-scarred season descends into farce.

Speaking as a guest on The Non-League Banter Show last night, Doswell did not hold back on his assessment of how the league have handled the voting situation.

‘The whole thing is a shambles,’ he remarked.

‘I think the National League is a shambles and I think the National League board should resign.

‘I run a very successful business my end, (but) it would have been bankrupt if it was run by them.

‘They’re absolute clowns and have turned this season into an absolute farce, it’s probably the most unenjoyable season in my 25 years in management.

‘The North and South (divisions) are treated like absolute peasants by this league.

‘They’re in the middle of the biggest PR disaster the league has ever had.'

All 66 clubs across the National League are voting on whether or not they can continue playing this season amid the funding crisis.

It appears increasingly likely a majority of clubs in the sixth tier will say it’s not financially possible for them to carry on playing.

Doswell admits the situation is being played out like a 'slow death'.

He feels clubs were not given enough time and were pressured into a decision on the way they voted as a result.

‘It’s going to be null and void, in my opinion, 99.9 per cent it’s going to be null and void,' Doswell added.

‘This is just being played out like a slow death, it’s one of the slowest deaths I’ve ever seen in football.

‘I look at my players - we’ve not won any of our last four games - I’ve found it very hard to motivate the players in the past few weeks.

‘I think it’s been hard to motivate anyone at the club, to be honest.

South and North clubs are treated like ‘absolute peasants’ by the National League – Hawks boss Doswell hits out