Hastings United: Where's the motivation for us to be ambitious?

Billy Wood, Hastings United CEO, is hoping the principles of Project Non-League are used to restructure the local football pyramid as hopes fade for the 2020-21 season being able to finish.

Hastings, who top the south-east division of the Isthmian League, as they did when last season was written off, are waiting to find out the future of a season that ground to a halt in November. Wood is calling on the FA to make it clear what the plan is going forward – and to back Project Non League.

This calls for results from the truncated 2019-20 campaign and this season to be combined to work out which teams have earned promotion in steps three to six.

“We’re calling for a bit of sensitivity and creativity”, Wood expressed. “One million per cent I expect the season to be made null and void… we’re not expecting this season to be done on points per game.

“The FA wants to restructure step four. This is giving them an option to reward the teams knocking the door. It doesn’t affect teams at the bottom – there is no relegation. This is a way to keep it fresh and keep the integrity of football.”

Wood is quick to acknowledge the club’s seven completed matches aren’t enough to justify a points-per-game calculation for 20-21 alone, but says there must be some motivation for teams to compete.

“Why should we be ambitious if we’re not going to be rewarded?” he asked. “What’s the motivation for Hastings United to spend money and compete if we get nothing? I want to know what’s going on

“I can’t keep spending money trying to get Hastings United into the National League if every time we’re stuck at the top of the league this happens. I might as well not bother.”

For many in non-league football, the big frustration is over the lack of planning to combat the impact of the pandemic. Wood said forward thinking was the key. He added: “I don’t want to be sitting here in January 2022 in the same situation, still not knowing what’s happening. That’s the problem.”