Yahoo News Birmingham City boss Chris Davies asks EFL to make League One rule change
Chris Davies has lamented the EFL rule restricting Birmingham City to an 18-man squad for League One games.
Blues boss Davies has been forced to leave seasoned professionals out of his squad in the first two games of the season. Tyler Roberts travelled to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend but the 25-year-old, who was playing regularly in the Premier League for Leeds United two years ago, was only given a watching brief.
Siriki Dembele was also omitted from the squad and 17-year-old whizz kid Romelle Donovan hasn’t played a minute this term despite starring in pre-season.
Third tier teams can only name a bench of seven players and due to substitute Willum Willumsson suffering a head injury against Wycombe, forcing Davies into a sixth substitution, every player bar back-up goalkeeper Ryan Allsop made it onto the pitch at Adams Park.
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“I think you would be a lot better off, especially when there’s five subs and possibly six with concussion, just doing a 20-man squad,” commented Davies. “I don’t see the reason for it being different in League One and I think it’s something they should look at moving forward.
“It keeps players involved and it will probably add more to the games because there are different options for managers. There doesn’t seem to be a reason that you wouldn’t do it.
“I can’t remember when it actually changed but it was during lockdown that we got bigger benches and the subs increased. It’s a bit of a disappointment for me because with a bigger squad you get people more involved and you have different options. Perhaps next season that’s something they could look at.”
