Hastings boss: We will be determined to show table-topping season was no fluke

The Us seem almost certain to start the 2020-21 season still in the Isthmian south east division – even though the FA are still being pressed by legals eagles and some clubs to overturn their decision to expunge results for clubs at non-league step three and lower.

Agutter is confident of keeping almost his whole squad together and making the necessary additions that will give him a line-up capable of repeating this season’s success and making sure of promotion to the Isthmian premier.

Agutter told the Hastings Observer: “Rather than feeling sorry for ourselves we have to try to plan and move forward.

“There are people on higher pay grades than me doing work on the whole issue of whether the season should have been made null and void but we are very much thinking we will be in the same division next season.

“Initially I thought that having to do everything again would be difficult and I think others did. But now the raw emotion of it has died down and I feel we have a point to prove, and what happened this season has to give us confidence.

“If you look at our results in the last ten games you can see why we were very confident of getting the job done and winning promotion.

“Now we have an opportunity to even improve on what we did and we are very determined to do well.”

Former Dartford forward Max Walsh is the latest addition to the Hastings ranks, having impressed in appearance for the Us under-23s before the lockdown.

His signing is on top of the likes of prolific striker Ben Pope and veteran defender Gary Elphick also committing to the club for next season.

Agutter is confident other existing squad members will also be staying and that there’ll be more new signings to improve the squad ready for a new stab at promotion to the Isthmian premier.

“Max is a young player who can play anywhere in the front five and I feel he gives us something we don’t already have – he’s different to what we have. We’re very industrious but can lack guile and I think Max will add that to our game.

“I hope to retain the majority of the squad. We’ve already announced Ben and Gary but I’m confident of keeping the core. Having spoken to the whole squad, I’d say 90 per cent of the squad have given an agreement they will stay. But we’re not resting on our laurels and thinking we can’t improve.

“We have players with ambitions of playing higher up the leagues and we want them to do that with us.

“There have also been a lot of players in contact with asking about joining. It’s not surprising – we have crowds of 700-plus, a great pitch and we are an ambitious club. But we have to make sure we get the right ones in, not just anyone.”

Agutter and his players are now waiting to see if next season will start on time – and with talk of public gatherings being banned for much longer than the next few weeks, nothing about football’s short-term future is assured. The manager is hopeful, though, that the non-league game as we know it will be back before too long.

“A lot of people are saying it won’t be back until next year but I don’t think it’s as bleak as that,” he said. “What will be will be but I’ll be shocked if we’re not starting again in or around September. There could be issues with travelling – especially as Guernsey are in our league, and travelling there or them coming here could be complicated.”

Agutter said it was difficult to predict if the same clubs would be strong in the division next season, saying some would have been worse hit financially than others by the lockdown.

Ashford United – who were hot on Hastings’ heels in the title race when football was suspended – have launched a Gofundme scheme to try to raise £15,000.

Agutter said: “Some clubs could struggle but others could see it as a great opportunity perhaps to do well on a smaller budget and go under the radar.”