Paul Doswell delighted Hawks can welcome supporters back

The Hawks have been unable to allow supporters into their ground since March following the coronavirus outbreak.

But the club were yesterday given the green light to welcome back fans after Hampshire was placed under tier two of the new government Covid-19 restrictions.

It means the Hawks are able to allow up to 1,411 supporters through the gates after an eight-month absence for Wednesday's (December 2) National League South meeting with Hemel Hempstead.

That fixture starts a run of three home matches in eight days with Chelmsford City (December 5) and Slough Town (December 9) also travelling to Westleigh Park.

Manager Doswell insists it's brilliant news the supporters will be back and feels they can have a big part to play in getting the Hawks through a busy period.

‘We’ve got Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday coming up here and I need nine points from those game to keep me in the race,' said a delighted Doswell.

‘I think our supporters can’t wait to come back - we know that.

‘I think Wednesday night will be a sigh of relief for everybody because we’ve really missed them.

‘For me, as I’ve said, football without supporters isn’t football so to get them back in is going to be a great thing.’

With a nationwide lockdown remaining in place until Wednesday, the Hawks' FA Cup second round meeting at Marine FC will be played behind closed doors on Sunday.

But Doswell feels that could actually work in his side's favour on this occasion.‘I think that would have made it more difficult (if fans were allowed at Marine),' added the Hawks boss.

‘If there was 3,000 Liverpudlians in there screaming for them it would have made it a much, much more difficult game.

‘I think it’s an advantage that they’re not there and we need every advantage we can get.’