Doswell signs new Hawks contract and promises fans: We’ll have some exciting times

The Hawks boss, whose contract was due to run out at the end of next season, will now be at Westleigh Park until at least the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

But he refused to rule out remaining even longer as he strives to establish the club at National League level.

Doswell made delivering promotion back to the highest level of non-league football his priority after signing his extended deal.

In his two seasons at the club, both have been stopped prematurely because of the pandemic.

Hawks were beaten National League South play-off semi-finalists, suffering defeat to Dartford, last summer.

But Doswell is finally hoping for an uninterrupted season at the club and to get them out of the division.

He said: ‘The crowd here are massively behind what we’re doing, the fans are massively behind what we’re doing, I guarantee them these is exciting times coming up.

'The commitment is there from myself and Ian (Baird, assistant manager) to achieve the promotions we want. A lot of work has been done as well and everyone’s going to see that come to fruition in the summer.

'I think it’s a very exciting period.

‘Clearly, the past two years have been a disappointment because of the pandemic. We’ve not been able to achieve what I’ve wanted in my first two years here but that’s pandemic-led away from anything else.'

Doswell is continuing his work for next season in the background after the null and voiding of the current National League South and North campaigns last month.

He thanked the board for the backing they've shown during his time at Westleigh Park.

And now he is looking to pursue his targets as Hawks look to build a promotion-winning squad.

Doswell added: ‘I’ve had great support from the board in terms of being able to sign the players we wanted to sign.

‘There were big decisions to be made here when I first arrived as well in terms of going to the hybrid full-time of doing Tuesday and Thursday mornings which has been supported.

‘It’s a good relationship I have with the board, with Stuart, Derek (Pope, chairman) and the rest of the board members as well, that’s important, you’ve got to feel you’ve got their backing and I have.

‘We’re very, very confident with the players that we’re talking to, the ones that have already agreed to come to this football club for next season, that we’re going to be challenging at the top of the table again - that’s where we expect and want to be.

‘The expectation within the whole club is we want to be a National League club, we want to be at the highest level of non-league football you can be. I think mine and Bairdy’s job is to do that.'