STUART Nethercott has urged non-league authorities to consider introducing a winter break.

The Maldon Town boss believes a fortnight off over Christmas would help protect pitches in readiness for weather like that currently blighting the Ryman League programme.

The Park Drive side have been hampered by having seven of their last 11 division one matches postponed and this week’s heavy rain means there is already a question mark over Saturday’s scheduled home game with Tilbury.

Last weekend’s planned trip to Waltham Abbey was a victim of the weather and Nethercott believes everyone would benefit from a fortnight off, from the end of December until early January.

“The league should have a look at the idea of taking a winter break,” the former Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall defender told the Standard.

“I’d definitely be up for that because the current situation is ridiculous.

“Obviously it wouldn’t put an end to postponements but it would help protect the pitches, because they wouldn’t be used for a couple of weeks over Christmas.

“If you look at them now they’re worn out, because of the number of games played on them in quick succession.

“None of our teams have got full-time groundsmen and when the weather’s like this they can’t do anything with the pitches anyway.

“It would give them a break, as well as saving the clubs money because they wouldn’t have to pay their players for a couple of weeks.

“It certainly wouldn’t hurt and, in my view, it’s certainly something we’ve got to look at. It’s a no-brainer.”