WILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: SHORTER playing bans are to be introduced for Wiltshire footballers who pick up red and yellow cards.

In a major overhaul of the discipline system, errant footballers at the grass roots level of the game are to be dealt with in the same way as the superstars in the Premiership.

As at the top level, playing bans will be imposed as a number of matches, replacing the present system of suspensions of a number of days and weeks.

The effect will be to reduce the number of games grass roots players miss after being sent off or collecting too many cautions.

Currently all clubs in the Conference, Dr Martens, Ryman and Unibond have punishments imposed by the national FA, while clubs in leagues below them are subject to county FA punishments.

This has led to inconsistencies in the discipline system, such as Calne Town's Matt Pratley being suspended for 70 days for a late tackle and missing 10 matches with higher league players only missing three games for the same offence.

The new system will be brought in gradually, with players at step five of the football pyramid, including Screwfix and Hellenic League Premier Divisions, the first to benefit.

Representatives of the leagues and the FAs of Wiltshire Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon, Hampshire and Dorset and Devon met last week and agreed to introduce the new system.

Football administrators are now working to have it in operation for the start of the new season in August. The change has been welcomed by two of Wiltshire's leading football officials.

Wiltshire FA secretary Mike Benson said it would end the injustice of players serving different suspensions for identical offences.

"I have always been in favour of a standard system, with players serving suspensions by a certain number of matches. The FA is all about people playing football, not preventing them from doing so."

The problem for county FAs up to now has been keeping track of non-contract players, who can be registered to play for different clubs in different leagues and in different counties at the same time.

New computer software to be used by all county FAs will solve that problem.

"The software has been tested and we are confident this new discipline is now feasible," said Mr Benson.

"I would like to see this new system introduced right down to county league level and now there is no reason why we can't do it."

"We would like to have the system in operation for step five clubs for next season, but it may have to be delayed until the season after that."

Screwfix League secretary Ken Clarke also welcomed the change.

"Ideally we would have liked to see it introduced for both our Premier and First Division clubs, but realise this is a step on the way of achieving that," he said.

"Players sent off will now know immediately where they stand and which matches they will miss.

"It will mean more work for our club secretaries, but it will be a much fairer system. It is something we have wanted to see introduced for some time."

Screwfix League managers have also welcomed the change.

Melksham Town manager Nigel Tripp said: "I'm all for it and believe it should have been introduced years ago.

"Under the present system if one of our players receives a 60 day ban he could miss 10 matches, and that's a quarter of the season."

"Everyone will now know where they stand and that's got to be good thing."

Biddestone manager Gary Skidmore said: "It is terrific news. I understand the administration will be difficult to sort out but it is something that has been needed for a long time."