WORCESTER City chairman Dave Boddy has slammed England's continuing policy of afternoon kick-offs -- insisting the financial affects are "crucifying" non-league football.

Boddy believes more than 300 will drop off the gate at St George's Lane this Saturday when City entertain Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup third qualifying round.

The projected attendance shortfall, which could see Worcester lose thousands of pounds in gate money, has been blamed on the scheduling of England's World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Attempts were made to avoid losing revenue when City offered to play on Sunday, but the request was turned down by the visiting Ryman Division One leaders.

"There's absolutely no reason why England's Saturday games can't be played as evening kick-offs," said Boddy. "It completely and utterly disrupts football below the Premiership, especially in non-league.

"It causes all sorts of problems. Firstly, asking people to travel for early kick-off times is out of order. But the major, major issue is the finance being lost to the game.

"If you kick-off on Saturday when England play, people don't turn out because they stop at home to watch England. It does not matter if your kick-off is 2pm or whatever.

"It's bitterly disappointing that we have an FA Cup third quali-fying round on the same day as an England game. I think it will affect our gate by 300 to 400 and that's a couple of grand apiece to us and Tonbridge. We don't get any compensation."

Boddy complained to FA chief executive Brian Barwick, but he believes his efforts and those of other suffering clubs will make no difference.

He added: "Brian Barwick said England kick-off times are agreed with advice from the police. But I don't accept that and I don't think that should be the case. I can't see England changing their stance, but it is crucifying us."