BEING in charge of one of the North West’s top football leagues must be a difficult task.

But each week, Warren Barlow, chairman of the Bolton, Bury and District Football League, gives our readers an insight into the work that goes on behind-the-scenes to try to make it run smoothly.

This week, he talks about how different competitions address issues with discipline in the junior game.

I HAVE had many links, over the years, with the discipline departments of the Football Association and the Lancashire FA.

I have provided evidence in relation to wrongdoers, supported others who have been subject of a discipline hearing and also attended as the accused.

On each occasion, the experience hasn’t been a good one. From the reporting, the investigation, the stipulations put on people to provide information, the plea process, the hearing whether in person or in absence to the penalties imposed and the appeal process.

It’s human nature to take things personally and nothing is more personal than having others questioning your actions.

You can speak to anyone in the grassroots game who has been through the process and they will all have their story to tell.

This is the one area in the grassroots game which causes the biggest conflict and division between those charged with governance of the game and the voluntary community who deliver the game in the towns and cities in the UK.

We need to make the process better, with more transparency and maybe offer a stepped approach to conflict resolution, to build bridges between the discipline departments of the country and those who are unfortunately subject of discipline.

We need to start building these bridges now and we in the BBDFL are happy to offer advice on how we have been so successful with a 60 per cent drop in discipline matters this year alone.

We are doing this with our members’ full support and appreciation.

Now it’s time for others to do likewise.

- Warren will return next week with another column on the major talking-points on the local and national scale affecting grassroots sport, notably football.

If you cannot wait that long then check @bbdjfl on twitter.