Leintwardine Colts' boss Chris Shurmer unhappy with rolling subs in Herefordshire Football League (From Hereford Times)

Leintwardine Colts' boss Chris Shurmer unhappy with rolling subs in Herefordshire Football League

1:30pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Football By Ian Morgan

LEINTWARDINE Colts boss Chris Shurmer says it’s a mistake to allow rolling substitutes in the Herefordshire Saturday Football League.

Shurmer fears it could ‘disrupt’ matches across the league next season — not improve the flow.

Club representatives voted in favour of the move across all divisions at the league’s annual general meeting.

“I think rolling subs is a rubbish idea,” said Shurmer, whose Colts side will be playing in a newly-restructured Division Three.

“I agree with allowing five subs because, as a manager, it gives you a chance to use everyone in the squad and keep them happy.

“But I am not happy with rolling subs because it could be used to disrupt the game.

“If we are winning with 10 minutes to go, there’s nothing to stop me from making a succession of substitutions.“ Shurmer added:“Apparently, rolling substitutes were trialled in Cornwall in a Sunday League and it worked well. But Sunday football is a lot different to Saturday league football.”

Herefordshire League vicechairman Alan Stokes explained: “It was something put forward by the FA to the HFA and then it was an addition to the rules and brought forward to our annual meeting.We put the matter to a vote and the clubs voted in favour of rolling subs.

“There was a discussion after that and we put it to another vote and it was passed again with the chairman’s vote.

“The HFA will use it in their cup competitions and the Herefordshire Sunday League have voted it in as well. The FA are trying to increase participation in the 11 v 11 game and keep more players involved.”