FORMER Colne Dynamoes skipper Simon Westwell has slammed suggestions his old club are to blame for the current crisis in non-League football in East Lancashire.

A number of leading non-League figures blamed Dynamoes for triggering off the spiralling wage demands made by modern players.

But Westwell, who lifted the FA Vase with Colne and went to Wembley with Clitheroe, has dismissed the accusations as 'sour grapes' and 'jealousy'.

"Surely clubs such as Accrington Stanley, Chorley and Great Harwood are big enough to admit their own mistakes rather than blame something that happened nine years ago.

"When Colne and Clitheroe went to Wembley they did not pay out 'silly money' and the majority of both teams were made up of local players.

"Colne were successful because of the great team spirit, excellent organisation and high standards which everyone had to attain each week.

"As far as the money was concerned, the only time it spiralled out of control was when the club went full time in it's final year.

"I think it's a poor excuse and a cop out and the article is bordering on sour grapes and jealousy." With Stanley, Chorley and Harwood all staring relegation in the face, the main thrust of the argument blamed the current slump on a lack of local talent.

Rival clubs have followed Dynamoes lead and made lucrative offers to attract the cream of the talent out of the region.

But Westwell refutes the suggestions and points the finger at East Lancashire's clubs and amateur players.

"The three clubs mentioned are suffering from bad decisions made at all levels going back a number of years and they are now stuck in a corner.

"Local non-League players today get fair reward but that doesn't necessarily guarantee success.

"There has to be more underlying reasons for a club's failure.

"Today's generation are not prepared to work and earn the rewards on offer, perhaps because it isn't the in thing to do."

And Ray Moore, vice-chairman of Colne FC of the North West Trains League Division Two, agreed that Dynamoes were a one-off.

He said: "It is true that money talks but to level that at Colne Dynamoes' door is unfair and short-sighted.

"Granted Graham White may have funded several transfers, wages, and so on from his own pocket.

"But, overlooked were a superb support at home games, the huge success of Mike King and Paul Fletcher on the commercial side and the thriving 100 Club.

"It should also be noted that Dynamoes did not have the luxury of a licensed bar and more than half of the Vase-winning side were local lads.

"The clubs mentioned in the article have been guilty of over-paying players throughout the last 10 years.

"The reasons for the demise lie at our own door and are with us to stay. It may mean the demise of clubs like Haslingden and Burnley Bank Hall but I feel it's a cross we now have to bear.

"Mr White may have kicked off but we're all still playing the same game.

"Should any of the clubs in East Lancashire find themselves in the position of Colne Dynamoes in the late 80s, I'm sure we all would follow the same road unashamedly."

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