Fleetlands still driving forward with ground improvements – even though they have no idea whether they will win promotion to the Wessex League

Chairman Iain Sellstrom is determined the work gets done - even if they miss out on promotion back to the Wessex League this season.

Football, like every other sport, has been thrown into chaos on the back of the coronavirus crisis.

The game at grassroots has been suspended for the foreseeable future while the government provide daily updates on the situation in England.

Hampshire Premier League Senior Division outfit Fleetlands have expressed their desire to return to step six following a 13-year absence after applying for promotion earlier this season.

In order to meet the ground gradings standards, they need to install new floodlights, build new officials’ changing rooms and provide new toilets at their Gosport base.

But despite the uncertainty around the world at the moment, Fleetlands' plan to get the necessary work complete in time for the new season - whenever that might be.

‘We’re still driving forward with the plans,' said Sellstrom.

‘The development, the floodlights, new clubhouse, all of that is going forward as planned.

‘Who knows what is going to happen?

‘We will drive on and if promotions do happen and we’re in a position where we’re eligible, I’d like to think we’d still have a chance of going up.

‘If the season gets eradicated from history, then we’ll be ready for next season.

‘That brings its own complications because we’ve got some good players at our place that we’re lucky to have.

‘Will they still want to be playing Hampshire Premier next season? Who knows?

‘But the positive is if it doesn’t happen this year, by next year there are no questions asked.

‘We will have the facilities, we will have all the requirements.'

Uncertainty surrounds how league authorities up and down the country will settle the 2019/20 season.

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, it remains unclear whether teams will be promoted and relegated this term or whether eight months’ worth of football is deemed 'null and void'.

Fleetlands sit fourth in the HPL top flight and in a strong position to clinch promotion.

However, given the current situation, Sellstrom admitted clubs will have to accept the decisions that are reached by the league authorities.

‘This is an unprecedented time for all of us,' he added.

‘You just never know what is going to come. It’s a difficult one.

‘Whatever the outcome is, someone is going to be unhappy.

‘If we didn’t get promoted because of this I’d be hugely disappointed, but it’s something you’d have to deal with.'