Non-League football in Sussex is in dire straits and could be heading for meltdown.

The wages being paid to players these days are ludicrous and many clubs must be exceeding their income by splashing money around.

After managing Worthing in the early Nineties and experiencing the passion of people in the semi professional game I worry that some of our local clubs may eventually fold.

The spiralling problems all revolve around money and non-League clubs are feeling the pinch from the breakdown of the ITV Digital deal.

Hundreds of professionals have been left out of work as a result and they are now touting themselves around non-League clubs to the highest bidder.

Wage bills have gone up and some are escalating out of control.

I think non-League clubs should emulate Europe's leading clubs and cap their salaries.

The G14 group, which includes 18 of Europe's top clubs, have agreed in principle to a salary ceiling of 70 per cent of a club's turnover.

The recommendation is part of a ten-point plan which will come into effect from the 2005-2006 season.

It would be marvellous if non-league clubs could do something similar but quite frankly I doubt it will ever happen.

There are always sides willing to flirt with bankruptcy in a bid to scoop the lucrative rewards on offer for success in the FA Cup and other competitions.

At present I would estimate non-League clubs are spending about 80 or 90 per cent of their revenue of wages.

I firmly believe the money would be better put to use improving the youth set-up at clubs.

There are too many old men playing County League football. I remember turning out for Whitehawk in my forties which, quite frankly was ridiculous, but we got away with it because the standard was so mediocre.

Crawley and Hastings have raked in the money from their FA Cup runs and I just hope they channel some of the money back into their youth schemes.

Other clubs like St Leonards are struggling just to make ends meet.

Let's hope they survive and more clubs emulate the approach of Withdean 2000 who pride themselves on their youth set-up and have a bright future as a result.

Saturday November 16