Is the removal of FA Cup replays a ‘kick in the teeth’ for lower league clubs or a vital step for player welfare? English football managers have their say on controversial decision

English football is in turmoil after the FA and Premier League reached an agreement to abandon FA Cup replays due to the expansion of European competitions from next season.

The FA has not discussed the controversial decision with the FA Cup committee and lower league clubs are dismayed as replays represent a huge financial boost.

Here you’ll find what managers across the football pyramid had to say.

EFL MANAGERS

Russell Martin, Southampton

It would have been wise to ask each club involved in the competition what they think. I’m pretty sure all 20 Premier League clubs were surveyed.

What makes English football special is the pyramid and the number of people who get the chance to play professionally, as well as the structure behind the Premier League and Championship.

You look at how many players have played for England and come through the academies of the lower leagues. This makes English football truly special and unique. So to continue to think that we can forget about the guys at the bottom and not worry about them is really naive and unfair.

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

Russell Martin believes every club should have been consulted and warned about endangering England’s “unique” football pyramid.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United

As a manager you are concerned about too many games, but I would rather play than train. It’s the same for the supporters. It’s not easy, but I saw the benefits with clubs that had replays.

Daniel Farke sees the benefits of replays and prefers to play rather than use this time to practice

Mark Robins, Coventry City

It kicks ass for everyone below the Premier League, there’s no doubt about it.

There is nothing we can do about it except express our concerns and perhaps there is reason to rethink the situation. This is really difficult for lower league clubs to accept.

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

There are a lot of players coming out of the academies of Premier League teams who are getting training and playing time, understanding, experience and going back and succeeding at bigger clubs. Sometimes they join international teams.

We have all played our part in this development. This should never be underestimated or forgotten.

Mark Robins has highlighted the importance of replays to the English football ecosystem and called the move a “kick in the teeth”.

David Wagner, City of Norwich

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

Apart from that, it’s always difficult as a coach if the schedule for the next few weeks is unclear because you don’t know if you or your opponent has a replay – it’s very difficult as a coach. Usually I like a game and you either succeed in it or you don’t. This excites me.

David Wagner is more excited about one-off cup matches, which is what he is used to in Germany

Ian Evatt, Bolton Wanderers

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

Growing up in Coventry and seeing them win the Cup in 1987, but also seeing them beaten by 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 aside.

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

We’re going to end up playing over 60 seasons of games and that’s too many.

Ian Evatt understands the romance of the FA Cup but welcomes the prospect of fewer games

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’s because of the overload of the calendar and this is dictated by FIFA and UEFA.

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

But there are so many other countries and they are part of the football calendar. You see, there is so much overload on players, we talk about this problem so often and it needs to stop.

I’m really sad for English football clubs.

But for the best players, we can now make room in the calendar.

Erik ten Hag called it “very sad for British football culture” but “inevitable” due to Europe’s growing demands.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City

You know better than me why the FA Cup was created. It’s up to lower division teams to get the chance to play at big clubs and earn money. In this sense, it is a problem. It’s a hard blow.

For the big clubs playing in European competitions, it is much better. We have a tight schedule with a lot of games and finding a balance is very difficult.

I understand why lower division clubs are complaining and it has been a tradition for many years. But with the schedule we have, playing in European competitions and with many players going to the national team, it’s much better.

Pep Guardiola knows it’s a ‘hard blow’ for lower league clubs, but thinks it’s ‘better’ for big clubs

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

We can’t look at things in isolation, but with the schedule we have for the next few seasons, we have to take games away from players.

I understand all points of view. Ours and mine is to protect our players. When I look at how many minutes and games they’ve played over the last two years without a break, how much they’re going to have to play over the next two years, it’s definitely not healthy. One way or another we have to reduce the schedule.

Mikel Arteta understands all perspectives but knows schedule needs to be cut somewhere

Rob Edwards, Luton Town

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

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

I understand the frustrations of the clubs, but on the other hand I see that with the schedule of matches coming up next season, especially our teams who are going to participate in European competitions, it is almost impossible to have replays.

So I can understand both sides.

Rob Edwards understands the financial value of replays as a former lower league boss himself

David Moyes, West Ham

The football calendar is too busy, there are too many matches. Something has to give somewhere in football, otherwise you might find that it’s going to be very difficult.

I’m not saying that’s what had to give, but at some point something will have to loosen up a little to give players more room.

David Moyes branded football program ‘too busy’ and claimed ‘something has to give’

Gary O’Neil, Wolves

A lot is being asked of the best players at the moment. If I put my selfish Wolverhampton face on, if we go there with a squad of 19 like this season, then the fewer games the better.

FA Cup matches must be played on Saturday so that you can benefit from a full week of preparation and the matches can be taken seriously. It’s a shame we had to go this route.

This could work both ways for lower league teams: if you are at home against a big team, you would prefer to play overtime and penalties, as you would be more likely to win than if, for example, you drew 1-1 with Man City and I have to travel to the Etihad for a replay.

From a financial point of view, I understand that clubs at the bottom of the scale benefit greatly from the revenue from extra matches.

Gary O’Neil is happy with fewer games from a ‘selfish’ point of view, but has sympathy for smaller teams