Promotion hopes all but over for one Hastings team - but not for another

Hastings United’s chief executive has admitted the club’s lingering promotion hopes are all but over.
Hastings Utd CEO Billy WoodHastings Utd CEO Billy Wood
Hastings Utd CEO Billy Wood

A decision by FA and league bosses to ‘curtail’ the Isthmian League season has come with a revelation that a rejig of divisions from steps four to six is planned.

Hastings play at step four – in the Isthmian south east – but it is thought unlikely any team will be promoted FROM step four in the shake-up.

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United CEO Billy Wood said the FA statement meant the season’s results had not yet been made null and void, but he said it would be wrong to be confident the team could still be promoted to the Isthmian premier.

Instead the club are looking to making a success of next season – while hoping their women’s first XI can still finish their Sussex League premier campaign and win promotion to the London and South East Counties league this year.

Wood told the Observer: “Having played only seven games, you can’t be upset or angry that the season is being curtailed. And in not saying it is null and void, meaning results can still be taken into consideration, they have learned a lesson. But my gut feeling is there won’t be any promotion from step four.

“We have to be prepared to play in the Isthmian south-east again. It’s disappointing but nothing in life comes easy.

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“We deserve to be playing at a higher level but there’s still a league there to be won.

“The positive is that there’s a roadmap out of lockdown and I’m hopeful we’ll get a full season in 2021-22.”

Hastings’ women’s team are at a level at which the season may yet finish and Wood said they had a great chance to get promoted, which would give the club something to focus on in the coming months. It’s not just Isthmian League clubs whose season has been curtailed.

The same goes for the Southern Combination League, while the East Sussex League (see story on this page) and Mid Sussex League are considering their options.

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Bexhill, who were flying in SCFL division one, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to our management teams, players, sponsors and supporters. We think you’ll agree a short but incredible season for all of our teams.”

Sidley United expressed a desire to be involved in a local tournament to fill the gap, something Hastings United are also keen on.