Hawks boss Doswell keen to recruit youngsters hungry to get back into the Football League

The club have released seven of last season's squad following their National League South play-off semi-final loss to Dartford.

Experienced trio Dean Beckwith, Danny Kedwell and Nicky Bailey - all 36 years old - have departed after just one term at Westleigh Park.

Chris Paul, Bradley Tarbuck, Joe Cook and Jake Flannigan are also no longer Hawks players as they get a chance to find more regular minutes at pastures new.

Added to that, last season’s top scorer Jonah Ayunga sealed a switch to League One Bristol Rovers earlier this week.

Doswell admitted budget constraints in a post-lockdown climate were a big factor in letting those seven players depart.

But he has also had a change of thinking ahead of the 2020/21 season which is due to start in early October for clubs in the sixth tier of English football.

At present, Hawks only have 10 contracted players for next term - Ross Worner, Anthony Straker, Wes Fogden, Sam Magri, Craig Robson, Benny Read, Roarie Deacon, Andy Drury, Bedsente Gomis and summer recruit Tommy Wright.

Midfielder Josh Taylor is currently still in discussions with the club about a new deal.

Ideally, Doswell would like to add another couple of experienced players with National League South quality.

But emphasis is then placed on bringing in hungry talents who've dropped out of the professional game and want to get back into the Football League.

‘It was mainly budget (behind player departures),' admitted Doswell.

‘We’ve got a completely different budget for next season.

‘If you look at the ages, we went for an experienced side to try and get us out of the division.

‘With a change of budget and everything else in place, it was almost impossible to retain that type of player.

'From our point of view, we were very happy with what they did for us last season.

‘But in football, there’s a time to move on at some point.

'We’re certainly looking at a reduction in our budget, it’s a very difficult climate at the moment.

‘For me, preferably we’ll be looking at a squad of 17 or 18 of which four or five of those will be younger players that we’ll try to develop.

‘We’re looking at 11 or 12 experienced players for this level, if not better, and then five or six younger players that we’d like to give a chance to.

'We’re looking for people that are good enough with a professional background that have a desire to get back playing in the league.

‘They’ve then got to be good enough to get in front of some good players in the starting 11 - that’s the idea.

‘We want to give them a chance and then it’s over to them.

‘If they’ve got that desire and hunger to get into the team and they start playing 20 National League South games at 19 or 20 years of age, they’ve then got a chance to progress.'

Doswell is hoping to get the perfect blend of experience of youth and experience as they plan another National League South promotion assault.

Although admitting any raw talents might struggle to break into the team at first, the boss wants to see them eventually pushing the more senior players for starting places.

‘It’s going to be a mixture of both really (youth and experience),' added Doswell.

‘We’re looking to bring in two or three quality players to add to what we’ve got.

‘The starting 11 will have the experience.

‘What we’re trying to do is get the other four, five or six players to push those experienced players, be better then them and eventually try to take their place in the team.'