Infinity owner ‘amazed’ by interest in manager’s job and vows: We’ll be even stronger next season

The Knowle Village-based club were on target to become the first in HPL top flight history go an entire league season unbeaten.

They had won 20 and drawn four of their 24 games, and a first ever title - and with it promotion to the Wessex League - was looking good.

That was before the Covid-19 pandemic brought global sport virtually to a halt, with the FA subsequently declaring the HPL season null and void.

As a result, Infinity have seen disillusioned manager Danny Thompson resign.

Joint owner Jody Hoare had also revealed he was toying with the idea of walking away - in the same way that Alresford Town chairman Stuart Munro has quit the Wessex League club following the FA crushing the Magpies’ promotion dream.

Hoare, though, has decided to carry on and has been heartened by two things.

First, the reaction of players, staff and sponsors and, secondly, the large amount of application letters from people wanting to step into Thompson’s shoes.

‘It would be selfish of me to pack it in and possibly leave the lads without a club,’ said Hoare.

‘That would be a self-centred thing to do. I’ll carry on and hopefully I’ll get the buzz back.

‘We’ve had a great response from everyone at the club (after the FA decision) - players, volunteers, the sponsors.

‘I’ve been amazed by how many applications we’ve had for the manager’s job. I was expecting 10 or 11 but we’ve had massively more than that.

‘It’s a real mix - from people wanting to move up the pyramid to people from higher leagues knowing what our ambitions are and wanting to be involved.

‘I’d still have preferred it if Danny had stayed. He’s a top lad, I won’t hear a bad word against him.

‘I think he left with a heavy heart, he felt let down by the FA. I have a feeling he didn’t really want to go, but sometimes you have to follow your instincts.

‘Dan brought a buzz with him when he arrived last summer, with his enthusiasm and passion.

‘Hopefully our next manager will do the same.’

Non-league football is full of players who can be more loyal to a certain manager than to a club.

But Hoare says he is not concerned that Thompson could return to raid Infinity for players if and when he gets a new manager’s job.

That was the case last summer when Thompson returned to former club Fleetlands to sign Tom Boyle, Chay Dugan, Jake Bull, Ryan Llewellyn, Kurt Watts, Jamie Wilkinson and Jordan Whiteley.

‘Football is like that all over,’ said Hoare. ‘Look at Harry Redknapp with players like Crouchie, Defoe and Kranjcar.

‘I’ve had lots of messages from the players saying they are staying loyal to myself and to the club. They want to smash it next season. I’m not concerned about anyone leaving.

‘Sometimes you can get a bit down about things, but the players saying they are staying loyal picks you up to go again.’

Hoare continued: ‘Every year teams lose a couple (of players) and sign a few.

‘Last year we lost our captain Sam Floyd, who was Infinity through and through, to Hythe & Dibden, and the year before we lost Filippos Terzidis to Hythe, and he’s just joined AFC Totton.

‘This year we’ve already had higher division clubs approaching Jamie White.

Every year clubs approach players like Jamie and Danny Phillips and offer them £80/90/100 a week to play.

‘I think that’s why the rumours start that we must pay our players, but they play here because they enjoy it - and they spread the word.

‘Next year we will have a stronger squad. I have already had players messaging me from two divisions higher, and more, asking me what’s happening because they’d like to be involved.’

Hoare admits Infinity are in no rush to announce Thompson’s replacement.

‘The players have said they are staying, they’re not wavering, and I don’t think it’s going to be a quick decision.

‘It could be next January before we are playing again … even if we appointed someone today they couldn’t speak to new players, they couldn’t plan pre-season.’