586 players are feeling the pressure already, as the end of season cull will start to take effect from the end of the month when contracts expire. That is the number of players who have been granted free transfers as the financial problems that are dogging football more than ever at present hit home. It can be a difficult time for a footballer as they are wondering where the next penny is coming from, especially the lower league players who do not have a huge stockpile of cash and need to be looking to life beyond football at an early age. This fate has befallen Ian Foster of Kidderminster Harriers. The former Liverpool apprentice spent a spell at Hereford before firing Kidderminster to the Conference title three seasons ago, however football is not a game of sentiment and he was one of manager Ian Britton's sacrificial lambs as the Aggborough club bids to cut costs even more. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Foster about where he goes next.
Q:WAS IT A SURPRISE TO BE GIVEN A FREE TRANSFER?
A:In the current financial climate that football is in then the answer has to be 'no'. The way things have panned out this season is that the manager has used a lot of loan players because the club doesn't have to pay a lot of money for them. The fact that clubs can now have up to ten loan players in a season is bad news for lower league players because the top clubs will happily pay their wages to give them experience but it has cost me my job.
Q:HAVE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME AT KIDDERMINSTER?
A:It has been very enjoyable and I wanted to stay longer. I asked the manager if I could but at the end of the day it was down to finances. Of course I am very disappointed.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW?
A:I am hoping to stay in full time football whether it be in the league or the Conference. I have enjoyed an injury-free couple of seasons and just want to play regular football. I am 26 now and feel like I could play at this level for another six or seven years.
Q:DOES THE MONEY AVAILABLE IN FULL TIME FOOTBALL WORRY YOU?
A:It is quite often a case of 'get what you're given' nowadays, but it depends what club you are joining. If they want to gain promotion then they are usually prepared to pay for the player otherwise they will be content to just jog along and pay people accordingly. When you look at what has happened at York this week then it makes you think that some clubs in the future could possibly end up going part time. However, more and more clubs outside the football league seem to be turning full time so I am not sure what will happen in the future.
Q:DO YOU WORRY FOR THE FUTURE OF LOWER LEAGUE FOOTBALLERS?
A:Whilst people keep losing their jobs in the Premiership then it will affect us I think the number of top flight players released this season has risen from 90 to around 120 and that has a snowball effect on the rest of us. Players who should be playing at that level drop down to the First Division and the domino effect reaches the Third Division.
Q:HAVE YOU MADE ANY PLANS AT ALL FOR LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL?
A:I have just passed the FA Diploma Course in the Treatment and Management of Injuries. I had to attend a two-week course at Lilleshall and the fact I passed Part A this year means I can now enroll on Part B. That will take place next summer and if I pass that then I am fully qualified to become a physiotherapist at a football club. It will also enable me to go on and take the Chartered Physiotherapist course if I so wish.
