‘The devil will be in the detail’ – Hawks are preparing themselves for ‘a series of battles’ if they compete in the National League South play-offs

Hawks are preparing ‘to fight a series of battles’ if a proposal to hold National League South play-offs is passed.
Andy Drury about to fire in a shot during Hawks' National League South win against Slough in February. The two teams could meet again in the play-offs at Westleigh Park if the league's proposal is passed by the clubs. Photo by Dave Haines/Portsmouth NewsAndy Drury about to fire in a shot during Hawks' National League South win against Slough in February. The two teams could meet again in the play-offs at Westleigh Park if the league's proposal is passed by the clubs. Photo by Dave Haines/Portsmouth News
Andy Drury about to fire in a shot during Hawks' National League South win against Slough in February. The two teams could meet again in the play-offs at Westleigh Park if the league's proposal is passed by the clubs. Photo by Dave Haines/Portsmouth News

The club received notice on Monday night that the National League had staged a major U-turn and put play-offs back on the table.

This was after clubs had been told last Thursday that no play-offs could take place as the government had allegedly declared step 2 football as non-elite and therefore not able to take place behind closed doors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That information was subsequently proved incorrect after Hawks had asked local MP Alan Mak to intervene on their behalf.

'The devil will be in the detail' - Hawks director Trevor Brock. Picture by Dave Haines'The devil will be in the detail' - Hawks director Trevor Brock. Picture by Dave Haines
'The devil will be in the detail' - Hawks director Trevor Brock. Picture by Dave Haines

The 68 clubs - 24 in the top flight and 22 in the South and North Divisions - have until 5pm tonight to vote on whether to accept the proposal.

The top flight clubs all have a vote each and the South and North have eight between them. The proposal needs 17 votes in order to pass.

Providing it does so - and the likelihood is that it will - Hawks will be invited to take part in the South play-offs along with Bath, Weymouth, Slough, Dartford and Dorking.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a letter, the National League said they will be ‘seeking warranties and indemnities from all clubs involved that they are compliant’ with all Covid-19 rules and regulations.

Hawks boss Paul Doswell has thanked other National League clubs for their help and support. Picture: Dave HainesHawks boss Paul Doswell has thanked other National League clubs for their help and support. Picture: Dave Haines
Hawks boss Paul Doswell has thanked other National League clubs for their help and support. Picture: Dave Haines

The ordinary resolution that clubs are voting on mentions ‘play-offs shall in any event be subject to the government’s Coronovirus Guidance on Phased Return of Elite Sport.’

In addition, if the proposal is passed, a ‘decision-making structure and procedure will be put in place to enable the Board to modify, restrict, postpone or cancel the play-offs.’

Hawks director Trevor Brock is well aware that any road leading to the play-offs taking place will be fraught with potential obstacles.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘We will have to cross each bridge before we come to them,’ he outlined.

‘It will be a series of battles - the devil will be in the detail.’

There are a variety of issues Hawks and their play-off rivals will face - the main one being how much it will cost.

Firstly, they will have to bring their playing squad back off furlough - at a cost of around £7,000 per week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under government guidelines, the players will need to have trained for at least a fortnight prior to playing any matches.

The first week’s training would be non-contact, followed by a week of contact training. In the third week clubs can play matches - either friendlies or competitive ones.

Hawks will also have to pay an indemnity to the league, but have no idea at present how much that will be.

They will also have to test their players at a cost of £125 per testing kit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At present, they don’t know how often they will need to test.

The club are working on the basis of having 30 people tested - equating to £3,750 for every round of testing.

Portsmouth have been testing twice a week, and will continue to do so until their League One play-off campaign is over.

If Hawks have to follow the same EFL procedures and test twice a week, that’s a cost of £7,500 - in addition to a £7,000 wage bill with players and staff back off furlough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Overall, that’s £14,500 a week - or £43,500 for the three-week period it could take to train and take part in the play-offs.

Those sort of costs could well be prohibitive to some clubs - this is the sixth tier of English football, lest we forget - but participation in the play-offs is not mandatory.

In other words, the South play-offs could take place with fewer than six teams involved. It could be that just two teams decide to play.

‘It will be tragic after all this if the club can’t afford it, and bear in mind the cost will have to come from individuals because the club has had no income since mid-March,’ said Brock.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘But let’s concentrate on the positives - if it’s possible to do it, we will do it.

‘Clubs will have to weigh up whether they think it’s worth it for a one in six shot at winning promotion.’

Hawks will also have other costs due to the fact they will play all their play-off games at Westleigh Park as a result of finishing second in the table behind Wealdstone.

They will host the winners of the Slough (5th) v Dartford (6th) quarter-final in a one-off semi-final tie.

If successful, they will also host the final.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The other semi-final will see Weymouth, who finished third, hosting either Bath (4th) or Dorking (7th)

‘In terms of hosting a play-off game, we’ll speak to Pompey,’ said Brock. ‘They will have held their game (against Oxford) by the time we play.’

At present, the club do not know what the eligibility rules will be regarding players.

But they remain hopeful that every member of the squad that ended 2019/20 - with the exception of striker Alfie Rutherford who has since joined Dorking - will be available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While some of those players are still under contract at the club, others are out of contract.

The National League play-offs - across all three divisions - should start by July 18. They will have to be completed by the first weekend of August at the latest.

The South and North finals will be held at the competing club who finished highest in their table, while the National League final will be held at a neutral venue, but NOT Wembley where it is normally staged.

Hawks remain concerned at what could happen if the play-offs don’t take place for whatever reason.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is nothing in the proposal being voted on today which mentions the second-placed club being promoted in the event of no play-offs.

Still, Hawks have been instrumental in the play-offs being reinstated - and other clubs could benefit from the work done by their officials and Mak.

Brock: ‘All we have done is tried to act with integrity all the way through.

‘Our main aim has been to try and make sure that what would normally happen, does happen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘We didn’t want it to be taken away from the clubs because of wrong information - that’s what we fought for.’

Hawks last Friday launched a #promote2 social media campaign in association with York City, who finished second in the North division via an unweighted points-per-game methodology.

The club have also received support from Wealdstone and King’s Lynn, the clubs who won the South and North titles respectively.

‘Those clubs have been amazing,’ said Brock.

‘We’ve had great support - my phone has been busier these last few days than it’s ever been in my life.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Steve King at Dartford has been a big help, and Dorking Wanderers have also been very, very helpful.’

Hawks boss Paul Doswell was also keen to thank others on social media.

‘Thank you so much to @AlanMakMP who fought our cause and all the other clubs as well,’ he wrote on Twitter.

‘Brilliant working with @YorkCityFC @DorkingWDRS,Steve King @Bakler1 @sloughtownfc. Thank you to all those that supported #promote2 and the few supportive voices from the National league Chairman.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘@StephenCleeve (King’s Lynn chairman) showed some integrity does exist in football and he deserves great respect for supporting our cause.

‘This was a pure matter of principle for me and sporting integrity once PPG was the decided outcome from the premier league down to League2.

‘This decision (the National League U-turn) only makes the step 3-7 decision even more ridiculous and football administrators should hang their heads in shame.

‘Can we force a rethink? Well #promote2 has worked so maybe another campaign is needed!!’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Doswell was referring there to the FA’s controversial decision to null and void all non-league football from steps 3-7 - locally, the Southern League Premier South down to the top flight of the Hampshire Premier League.’