United axe reserve team

As from the start of the 2010/11 season, the Ryman Premier outfit will field three under-18 sides rather than a reserve team in the conventional sense.

The trio of youth teams will come under the overall jurisdiction of first team manager Tony Dolby with the senior u18 side - effectively acting as the reserves - managed by club captain Sean Ray. They will continue to play in the East Division of the Sussex County Youth League.

Darren Smith will once again oversee the u18 B side in the Crowborough & District Junior Football League and Clive Raines will remain in place as manager of last season's double-winning u16s as they make the step up to the new age group.

Hastings chairman Dave Walters believes the decision makes perfect sense. "There isn't any advantage in having a reserve side at the moment," he said. "We didn't have anyone come through last season."

The second string have only just concluded their campaign in Reserve Section Premier of the Sussex County Football League where they came a modest 11th.

They did finish runners-up the previous campaign but that squad had been brought on by the management duo of John Lambert and Wayne Farrier whose departures to Sidley United were soon followed by an exodus of young talent. Since then, not one player has really troubled the first team on a consistent basis.

The financial implications also had a bearing because the reserves attracted few fans through the turnstile. "We have got to be practical," added Walters, who revealed there had been matches where the money generated would not even cover the costs of the referee.

"More and more clubs are looking at the reserves situation," he went on. "I'm looking at it as a positive move. What we are saying is we are going to have a first team squad of 17 or 18 players and that will be supplemented by the young players, and the under-18s will know they are going to be first call."

As happened last season, Hastings will make use of the dual-registration system for squad players to regain fitness which will no doubt benefit local county league clubs, while the absence of an adult reserve team should also free up The Pilot Field more often for first team training.

Dolby said: "I've always been a big believer in the reserves to bring players through to the first team but last season there wasn't any who came through which is the main point of a reserve team. With the youngsters coming through, it should be only a matter of time before have a reserve team up and running again."

Any local players looking to join United should contact Ray through the club on 444635.