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Football League clubs are set to discuss introducing extra substitutes in the coming days and changes could be implemented immediately.
Gillingham manager Steve Evans has spoken of his opposition to the move, which would benefit clubs with bigger resources.
Sky Sports have reported that EFL clubs are expected to agree to five substitutes being used in a match, and the ruling would be permanent, even though the reasoning has been given because of a spike in soft tissue injuries following a congested schedule.
The Premier League have voted against the move.
League 1 includes some big teams this season, with many on vast budgets compared to the Gills, which means they have more quality in reserve. A chance to involve more players in a game is seen by Evans as an “unfair advantage.”
EFL clubs can currently use three substitutes from seven named in the matchday squad.
The subject was brought up during an “ask the gaffer” Q&A on Sunday, with Evans saying: “I wouldn’t vote for five. Look at the bench at Sunderland, compare that to us, it is an unfair advantage.
“If the vote was taken by all the respective clubs and the vote was for five, then we would go with it, I wouldn’t complain about it, I would get on with it but I know teams who can bring the fourth and fifth sub on, they are bringing more quality onto the pitch than I can.”
Gillingham recently played Sunderland and Evans claimed their opponents that day had “£79k worth of weekly wages on the bench.”
Upcoming opponents Charlton won their last league game against Fleetwood and one of their unused substitutes was Marcus Maddison, a player with the on-field ability to merit a place in most League 1 team’s starting XI.
Gillingham have had their fair share of injuries this season, with Matty Willock, Tom O'Connor and Scott Robertson among those picking up strains.
It’s reported that each division could have a different version of the substitute rule, with up to nine players on the bench. Gillingham have been unable to fill their seven-man substitute quota on a couple of occasions this season.
