Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley has called on the Vanarama National League to introduce a ruling to govern the scheduling of league games around the dates of FA Cup ties.

The Iron boss was left “disappointed” that his team were required to play a league fixture at Woking on Tuesday – which ended in a 1-1 draw – that came just 48 hours after a gruelling FA Cup first round encounter with Oxford United.

While their opponents had had ten days to prepare for the league clash, Braintree’s players had to travel to Woking before playing through exhaustion and injuries and Cowley felt it put players’ safety at risk.

The current ruling says that it is up to both teams to agree if a league fixture is delayed by a day if there has been weekend cup action, but Braintree were the only side playing on Sunday who then had to go again on the Tuesday.

Cowley said he didn’t blame Woking for electing to keep the game on the Tuesday rather than move it back, but would like to see the league step in with a ruling that makes it obligatory for games to be set back a day if one of the teams is in Sunday FA Cup action.

He said: “We are disappointed with the league and I wouldn’t be saying this if we had lost because it would sound like sour grapes, but we feel the league should support its member clubs when they are in the FA Cup.

“The FA Cup brings a great profile to the league and if clubs are involved then they should get at least 72 hours before playing again.

“Games can be rescheduled now, but only if both clubs agree.

“Woking wanted the game on the Tuesday and I can’t blame them really.

“I’d have done the same if I was blatantly honest and I wouldn’t want to rearrange it, so I’m not disappointed with them, I’m disappointed that the league don’t have a rule in place to protect players in this situation.

“We are always having guidelines come through about protecting players and I’m only too pleased to see that as player safety has to be at the forefront of our minds.

“But a part-time team has been allowed to play 48 hours after a cup tie.

“We love being in this league and are proud to be involved in it, but we feel there should be a rule in place to govern the situation.”