Football funding is unequal, says Kent club boss

Tonbridge Angels have recently switched to a 3G pitch

The boss of a lower league football club has expressed concern about the "inequality" of funding in the sport as smaller clubs attend a summit on the new Football Governance Bill.

Lower-tier clubs from across the country will meet at AFC Wimbledon, south-west London, to discuss the legislation, which will see new rules for the regulation of football.

Non-league clubs would like to see a fairer distribution of funds throughout the English and Welsh pyramid, and are calling for FA Cup replays to not be scrapped.

Dave Netherstreet, the joint president of Tonbridge Angels FC, who play in the sixth tier of football, said: "There is great inequality when it comes to distribution of the funding.

"In the National League South (sixth tier), every thousand pound of the broadcast money that Premier League clubs get, we get 14p. The divide gets wider every year."

Mr Netherstreet also paid tribute to Maidstone United's FA Cup heroics this season, which saw the club make about £800,000 in revenue after reaching the fifth round.

The money will enable the club to replace its artificial surface.

Maidstone United made enough money to re-lay their artificial pitch after their FA Cup run

However, lower tier clubs say they will lose valuable opportunities to boost revenue with the scrapping of FA Cup replays, following a vote by Premier League clubs.

"Prize money for grassroots clubs is crucial and it can boost a club," Mr Netherstreet said.

"I don't think the FA realise it. Will the prize money make much of a difference to Manchester City? No."

The Football Governance Bill, which is set for its second reading in Parliament on later, would grant powers to a body, independent of government and football authorities, to oversee clubs in the top five men's tiers.

The Premier League, which has been accused of taking much of the proceeds from the sport, has been approached for comment.