Is scrapping FA Cup replays a ‘kick in the teeth’ for lower-league clubs or a vital step for player welfare? Managers from across English football have their say on the controversial move

English football is in turmoil after the FA and the Premier League struck a deal to scrap replays of the FA Cup due to the expansion of European competitions from next season.

The FA has not discussed the controversial move with the FA Cup committee and lower division clubs are baffled as replays are a huge financial help.

Here’s what managers from across the football pyramid had to say.

EFL MANAGERS

Russel Martin, Southampton

It would have been wise to ask every club involved in the competition what they thought. I’m pretty sure the 20 clubs in the Premier League have been asked.

What makes English football special is the pyramid and how many people get the opportunity to play professionally and the structure behind the Premier League and the Championship.

You look at how many players have played for England and gone through lower league training. It really makes English football special and unique. So to continue to think that you can forget about the guys at the bottom and just not worry about them is really naive and not fair.

You have to be very, very careful if you just want to focus on protecting yourself and your money at the top of that chain because things can change very, very quickly in football.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United

As a manager you worry about too many games, but I’d rather play than train. The same goes for the fans. It’s not easy, but I’ve seen the benefits at clubs that had repeats.

Mark Robins, Coventry City

It’s kicking everyone in the teeth below the Premier League, there’s no doubt about that.

There is nothing we can do about that apart from our concerns and maybe there is a reconsideration. It is very difficult for lower division clubs to deal with this.

It’s difficult because you look and those clubs, the grassroots, the EFL and below are all part of the pyramid that has to feed each other and ultimately feed the Premier League.

There are a lot of players who come out of the academies of Premier League teams who get the training and playing time, the understanding and the experience and go back to make it at bigger clubs. Sometimes they end up in international teams.

We have all contributed to that development. That should never be underestimated or forgotten.

David Wagner, Norwich City

I’m German and in the German Cup we never had replays – I like it. It’s one game and it’s live or die.

In addition, it is always difficult as a manager if the schedule for the coming weeks is not clear, because you do not know whether you or your opponent has a replay; as a manager this is quite a challenge. Generally I like one game and you either go through it or you don’t. This excites me.

Ian Evatt, Bolton Wanderers

On the one hand, I love this game and the history of this game. The FA Cup is a big part of that.

Growing up in Coventry and seeing them win the cup in 1987, as well as witnessing the defeat of Sutton United the following year, leaves its mark.

But that’s the glory of the FA Cup and the romantic part of it is something that should be left alone.

That said, and now that I’m in the seat, it probably helps me in terms of game management.

We’re going to end up playing more than 60 game seasons and that’s too many.

PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United

It’s very sad for British football culture, but it’s also inevitable. Nobody can do anything about it, it is due to the overload in the schedule and that is dictated by FIFA and UEFA.

England is part of UEFA. We are a big league, we have a big influence and a big impact with FIFA and UEFA.

But there are so many other countries and they make the football program. You see that the players are so overloaded, we talk about it so much and it has to stop.

I feel really sad for the clubs in English football.

But we can now at least make some room in the schedule for top players.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City

You know better than I do why the FA Cup was created. It is up to the lower division teams to get the chance to play against big clubs and get money. In that sense it is a problem. It’s a big blow.

For the big clubs that play in European competitions, it is much better. We have a tight schedule with many matches and finding a balance is so difficult.

I understand why clubs in lower divisions complain and that has been a tradition for years. But with the schedule we have, playing in European competition and with a lot of players going to the national teams, it is much better.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

We cannot look at it in isolation, but with the calendar we have in the coming seasons, we have to exclude matches for the players.

I understand every point of view. It is ours and mine to protect our players. When I looked at how many minutes and games they have played without breaks over the last two years, and how many they will have to play in the next two years, it is certainly not healthy. Somehow we have to shorten the calendar somewhere.

Rob Edwards, Lutontown

I succeeded in League Two with Forest Green, so I have complete empathy with teams in the EFL and I know the value replays can bring.

We played Bolton in a replay earlier this season. I know they are a bigger club on the way back, but I know it was valuable for them.

I understand the frustrations of the clubs, but on the other hand I can see that with the schedule coming next season, especially our teams that will participate in European competitions, it will be almost impossible to get the replays in.

So I can understand both sides of it.

David Moyes, West Ham

The football schedule is too full, there are too many games. Something has to give in football somewhere, otherwise you will find that it will be very difficult.

I’m not saying this was the thing that had to be given, but somewhere along the line something will have to loosen up to give the players more room.

Gary O’Neil, Wolves

A lot is currently being asked of top players. If I take a shot at my selfish Wolverhampton, if we start with a team of nineteen just like this season, the fewer games, the better.

FA Cup matches should be played on Saturdays so that you get a full week of preparation and the matches can be taken seriously. It’s a shame we had to go that way.

It could work both ways for lower league teams, where if you’re at home for a big team you’d rather play extra time and penalties because you’re more likely to win than if you draw 1-1 with, say Man City and have to go to the Etihad for a replay.

From a financial point of view, I understand that clubs lower on the ladder benefit enormously from the revenue from the extra matches.