SUNDAY league teams signing footballers “too good” for the division are “ruining” the competition, insist league chiefs.

Bosses at the McDonald’s Worcester and District Football League have pledged to take a firmer stance on player recruitment ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, which begins on September 4.

The clampdown comes after several sides in last season’s six divisions ran away with the league title.

Secretary Tim Phillips says they are determined to stop teams “deliberately” snapping up better quality players as he believes it “spoils it for everyone else”.

He also accused some footballers of being “more content” to play in their “comfort zone” rather than testing themselves against better sides.

“Players don’t seem to want to test themselves these days and play in the highest division possible,” Phillips said.

“They’re more content just to play in a comfort zone in the lower divisions and win 5-0 or 6-0 every week and pick up a trophy at the end of the season without exerting themselves.

“Some players who are clearly of a higher standard end up playing in the lower divisions and we are trying to put a stop to that as it ruins it for the teams who are of the right standard in the lower divisions.

“You only have to look at the league tables from last season to see who I am talking about.”

Despite the pledge, Phillips admitted it would be “very difficult” for the management committee to stamp out the problem and called on clubs to be “honest”.

“You have to look at a player’s personal history,” he said.

“We have people on our management committee who know a lot of players.

“If we see a club are potentially signing a player or players that don’t match the ability of the division, we will think about moving them into a higher division.

“But it is very difficult and you do rely on clubs telling you who they have got playing for them.”

Phillips added: “We are looking at it and hopefully teams will be honest and play in the division that suits their playing staff and not just run away with it in the lower divisions because that does not do anyone any good.

“At the end of the day, clubs will sign who they want but we encourage them to sign players of an ability to play in the appropriate division they are in.”

The league have recently been forced to cut down the number of divisions from six to five following “the worst ever” season for withdrawals.

They have since also lost Malvern Radar from their top flight and Droitwich side Talbot and Warndon Villages from Division Two.

Prince of Wales have been moved into Division Two as a result.