Hawks defender Benny Read’s dream EFL move could have been dashed by the pandemic

Benny Read was attracting interest from EFL clubs prior to football's lockdown in March. Photo by Dave Haines/Portsmouth News

But Paul Doswell admitted the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to the 22-year-old's dream of moving into the professional game this summer.

Read was rewarded with a two-year contract extension at Westleigh Park earlier this week following an outstanding first season at the club.

The right-back arrived from Horndean last summer and had no problems making the step up to National League South level - a leap of three divisions from the Wessex League.

In fact, he adapted so well to life at the Hawks that two potential Football League suitors were tracking his progress.

Doswell revealed a club from League One and League Two expressed an interest just before football was locked down due to the pandemic.

Discussions progressed with one of the clubs, although things have gone quiet following football's restart.

And Doswell feels Read would have moved into the EFLhad it not been for the Covid-19 outbreak.

‘In the last two months of the season before football was locked down he had Football League clubs looking at him and rightly so,' said the Hawks boss.

‘In my opinion Benny can go and play Football League all day long.

‘Leading up to the coronavirus in February and March we had two Football League clubs express an interest and we were speaking to one of them.

‘But obviously with Covid things have gone quiet.

‘The main job for the football club is to get promoted, the next job is to make sure the young players get given a chance to progress.

‘We’ve used Benny Read and Jonah Ayunga as examples for players as to why they should sign for this club rather than any other.

‘His improvement during the season was good.'

Talking about Read’s new Westleigh Park deal, Doswell added: ‘The extension for Benny was a no-brainer for him and for us, it gives him another two years of security.

‘He’s another one, we’ve all been talking about Lucas (Sinclair), Tommy (Wright) and Joe Iaciofano, but, ultimately, Benny comes into that category of player.

‘If he continues his progress and gets better and better, he’ll be a player that could be the next one out the club - that’s a positive and not a negative.'