Hawks facing anxious wait to see if they can welcome fans back to Westleigh Park after lockdown ends

The club are due to host Hemel Hempstead in the National League South on Wednesday, December 2 - the first of three home games in eight days.

Fans aren’t expected to be allowed into that game, as the current restrictions are due to end at midnight that evening. But they could be back for home matches on December 5 and December 9.

The Government today announced that outdoor and indoor venues in tier 1 and 2 areas would be allowed to admit spectators on a limited basis after the end of the national lockdown next Wednesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not confirm what the capacity limits or percentages would be, but it has been reported that 4,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity limits – whichever is lowest – would be in place in tier 1, dropping to 2,000 or 50 per cent for indoor venues.

In tier 2, it has been reported it would be 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, or 50 per cent capacity.

The Government are due to reveal this Thursday what areas will be under what tier status once restrictions are eased.

The Portsmouth/Havant area is included in the South East region, which last week reported the highest Covid-19 infection rate in England.

In statistics revealed last Friday, the South East’s R rate was between 1.1-1.3 - compared to an England average of 1.0-1.1.

The North West - including Liverpool, the first city to be placed under tier 3 restrictions prior to the second national lockdown - reported the lowest R rate, between 0.8-1.0.

It is also not yet known how long a region’s tier status will be in place for. Should the South East region be placed under tier 3 status, clubs and fans would want to know the minimum timeframe before that decision was reviewed.

Hawks have a raft of home games coming up where they could welcome back fans, provided the area is placed under tier 1 or tier 2 restrictions.

In addition to hosting Hemel next Wednesday, Hawks are due to welcome Chelmsford the following Saturday and Slough Town four days later.

If under tier 1 restrictions, Hawks would be allowed around 2,800 supporters - around 50 per cent of their capacity.

That is around double last season’s league average crowd at Westleigh Park.

Under tier 2, they would be allowed a maximum of 2,000 fans.

Somewhat bizarrely, they would be allowed 2,800 supporters - if placed in tier 1 - while Manchester United and Liverpool will only be allowed 1,200 more (4,000 being lower than 50 per cent of their stadiums’ capacity).

Director Trevor Brock said: ‘On the surface of it, this is certainly very good news.

‘But as always, the devil will be in the detail.’

Locally, the Government’s announcement paves the way for grassroots football to return from next Wednesday.

But it is not yet known whether spectators will be allowed to watch games in the Southern League, Wessex League and Hampshire League if the home club is in a tier 3 area.

Prior to the second lockdown, fans were allowed into all those above-mentioned leagues - though attendance levels were capped depending on the level.

For instance, Gosport Borough were allowed up to 600 fans for Southern League games, while Wessex League Premier Division clubs could admit a maximum of 300.

Outdoor sports, such as golf and tennis, can resume from next Wednesday, and gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers.

Organised grassroots sport is also allowed to resume. Social distancing will remain in place, and there will be some restrictions on highest-risk activity in tier three areas.

In tier one areas indoor sports can take place within the rule of six. This will mean six people from different households could play volleyball, for example, or four people from different households could play tennis doubles or badminton.

Spectators had been due to be allowed to return to stadiums from October 1 but the Government pressed pause on that decision due to a rise in infections nationwide.

Last Thursday the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced a £300million ‘Winter Survival Package’ of loans and grants to sports which are facing financial losses as a result of the absence of fans from stadiums.

Rugby Union was the biggest winner - receiving around £135m - while £40m was made available to racing.

There was nothing for the Championship and EFL, with the Government adamant the Premier League should fund a rescue package for the second, third and fourth tiers of English football.

The National League were given an extra £11m package - comprising loans - on top of the £10m of National Lottery funding they were awarded for October, November and December.

It is not yet known whether the December handouts - £30,000 in Hawks’ case - will still be made to the clubs who are allowed to welcome fans back into their grounds.