Harty: Move over Elvis, is it 'now or never' for Worthing FC?

With the Rebels now sitting on the cusp of their greatest ever achievement, a lot it comes down to a phone call back in October, when the Sutton chairman phoned his Worthing counterpart Barry Hunter to ask for permission to talk to then Rebels manager Chris Agutter. (and the resulting compensation that came with the deal).

It set off a chain of events which has ended up with Worthing needing four points from their last two games to lift the National League South title.

Barry freely admits he got lucky – a very nice sum for his existing manager and the return of a club legend in the dugout to replace him. Then again as my dear old granddad used to say: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

There is perhaps a degree of caution – 12 months ago Worthing were in the box seat, top of the table with two ‘winnable’ games in hand, they faded and ended up being knocked out of the play-off by, ironically, this Saturday’s opponents, Maidstone United.

But this time, I believe, is our time – the time for the club to ply its trade in the top level of non-league football.

It’s also the optimum time, sliding doors, footballing gods aligning, call it what you like – for if not this season for Worthing, then when?

I was talking to a legendary media figure the other day who has very close ties to a struggling League One side. He was succinct in his appraisal of the situation in saying that Wrexham, in their climb up the leagues, have effectively ripped up the playbook and changed the whole face of top-end non-league and lower league professional football.

With the Hollywood Welsh club going with a larger playing budget, other clubs had to follow suit to compete – the majority getting into debt in the process.

And is it all going to start again in the shape of Dagenham and Redbridge FC?

With YouTube sensation (whatever that is!) KSI and Malaysian multi-millionaire Tony Fernandes taking control of the Essex club, are they going to be the next Wrexham, upping the ante with a huge playing budget which competing clubs have to attempt to match or fall by the wayside? It doesn’t make it right, but it’s the reality of non-league football.

Clearly the budget will have to go up if Worthing are in the National League Premier, but turnstile income will improve along with increased sponsorship and interaction with the local business community.

That said, the job’s not done yet, and for me it’s a bit of a double-edged sword.

Saturday’s emphatic 7-2 win against the aforementioned Dagenham was hopefully my last Worthing game of the season.

A mere four weeks ago, with Dorking Wanderers looking home and hosed for the title, I’d agreed to sponsor the potential play-off semi-final, subject to Worthing finishing second or third.

I’m at Tottenham with the Albion this week, and the following Saturday I can’t be there, though needless to say DAZN’s coverage of Worthing v Ebbsfleet will be on my telly!

Regardless of any other results, the Rebels just need four points to lift the trophy and to reiterate what I said last week, it’s no more than all the team at Woodside Road, both on and off the field, deserve – especially George Dowell MBE.

Who’d have thought this 10 years ago? Season 26/27… Worthing in the National League playing front of healthy four-figure crowds every week? Brighton in Europe for the second time? And Tottenham – three levels up from where Worthing might be – in the Championship?

It’s truly Jimmy Greaves territory... “It’s a funny old game!”