FIVE SUBS, THAT'S THE STIM-PLE FIX!

RESPECTED Hornchurch boss Mark Stimson is calling for player welfare to be put first and allow clubs to use five substitutes.

- Matt Badcock

Stimson, who won the FA Trophy three times on the bounce as manager of Grays and Stevenage, believes the circumstances of the Covid affected 2020-21 season means it is crucial to make the change.

It echoes pleas from managers at the very top of the game for the increase to be allowed in the Premier League.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola are both vocal critics of only being allowed to use three subs.

With the Step 3 and below season currently paused because of national lockdown, the fixture calendar is already tight for the rest of the campaign.

Stimson says he has lost eight players to fatigue injuries in the final 20 minutes of games and he hopes the current league suspension can kick-start the conversation.

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“For many reasons,” Stimson told The NLP. “One, health and safety is massive. We talk about extending the season but if we get to that stage we might not have enough players fit to play the games.