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Braintree boss Alan Devonshire says the club's schedule of 11 games in 24 days wouldn't happen to the bigger sides in the division as the Conference wouldn't allow it.
The Iron face the Bulls on Saturday in the first of the 11 matches, with Devonshire saying he will have no choice but to field weakened sides in some games to give players a break:
“How can they ask us to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday three weeks on the trot? I’m sure if it was Luton or Grimsby I don’t think it would be happening.
“We have got a free week this week and no one wants to play us. Shouldn’t they make someone play us? All those who don’t have a game, which there are plenty.
“At the end of the day I cannot put my first team out for some of these games, it’s impossible. As long as the league knows that I am going to have to put the youth team out for one or two games.
“So I am sorry to all the teams out there for relegation or playoffs going up but I have got to look after my players and there are times where I will have to play a weakened side.
“I will have to pick the games where I want to attack and the games that I have to play a weakened side. I can’t do anything else; I have got 16 or 17 players.”
“How can they ask us to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday three weeks on the trot? I’m sure if it was Luton or Grimsby I don’t think it would be happening.
“We have got a free week this week and no one wants to play us. Shouldn’t they make someone play us? All those who don’t have a game, which there are plenty.
“At the end of the day I cannot put my first team out for some of these games, it’s impossible. As long as the league knows that I am going to have to put the youth team out for one or two games.
“So I am sorry to all the teams out there for relegation or playoffs going up but I have got to look after my players and there are times where I will have to play a weakened side.
“I will have to pick the games where I want to attack and the games that I have to play a weakened side. I can’t do anything else; I have got 16 or 17 players.”
