No way can 2020-21 non-league season be finished, says Rooks boss

Hugo Langton says there’s no way the 2020-21 non-league season can be finished – and thoughts must turn to the 2021-22 campaign.
Lewes boss Hugo LangtonLewes boss Hugo Langton
Lewes boss Hugo Langton

The Lewes manager says it would be a struggle to get a full set of league fixtures completed even if the restart could happen tomorrow.

As it is, he says players will need a long ‘pre-season’ period after the current lengthy lay-off and it would be folly to think of anything other than a prompt start to next season.

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As the wait for a restart goes on, with no sign any playing or training is going to be permitted before March, Langton and his staff are keeping in close contact with their squad – who are telling them they are desperate to get back on the pitch.

Langton said: “We dream of the day we can get together again as a group, and then of the day we can play in front of the fans at The Dripping Pan.

“But when that will be is out of our control. In the meantime you have to adapt or die, so you adapt.”

Lewes are among step three and four clubs who have been surveyed on whether they think the 2020-21 season should be terminated, or if another way of concluding it should be attempted.

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Langton said he would not personally object to sides like Worthing and Hastings being promoted if teams’ results over last season and this were put together and points per game used.

But he said he could see no way the 20-21 fixtures could be completed. “It’s been three months since we played and we have 35 games to play,” he said. “Even if we could restart now, we’d need a seven or eight-week pre-season which would take us to the end of March.

“The sensible thing to do is work towards next season starting in August, or maybe even a little earlier, when the weather’s nice and the Covid R rate is under control.

“I am very big on the issue of player welfare and after such a long period with no games or training, that side of football is going to be harder than ever.

“We have to look after players’ health and well-being.”

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One familiar figure from the squad who has been able to play is midfielder Jude Arthurs, who Langton was delighted to see given his full Bromley first-team debut in a 2-2 National League at home to Woking.