Hastings boss: It's hard to stay positive and motivated

The manager says it is hard to positive when there is so much uncertainty about when the league season will resume – and whether it will finish.

Agutter was speaking after the majority of clubs across the Isthmian, Southern and Northern League voted to continue the current ‘pause’ in the season until the country’s Covid restrictions and tiers made it simpler to get games on again.

For Hastings, it’s doubly frustrating.

They were top of the Isthmian south east division and heading for promotion when last season was suspended and then declared null and void. Now they’re top again and keen to keep going – but having to kick their heels with no restart date date yet set.

Agutter’s men were back in action in the first round of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night but he admitted they looked rusty in a 1-0 defeat.

The manager said: “The fact we hadn’t played for five weeks showed. The players have stayed fit but there were many individual mistakes, and we did everything but finish our chances.

“It was like the first game of pre-season and we now have to treat the next few weeks, and any friendlies we can play, as another pre-season.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the league season and all we can do is be ready when it does resume and make sure we stay at the top.”

Adding to the club’s dismay over the latest break is there is still nothing in place to rule on how the season will be decided if it is not finished.

And Agutter said he was finding it hard to stay motivated.

“What’s starting to develop is a feeling that this is just how we get treated at this level. We’re waiting for leadership and direction but don’t get it. Players are asking me what’s happening and I have to tell them I don’t have a clue.

“For the first time since this started, I feel genuinely demotivated.”

Agutter said he feared some players would move on – either to higher or lower levels – if step four football didn’t restart soon. “If in the next month we can’t offer competitive games or the right financial support, I’d 100 per cent expect players to leave. They’ve been incredibly loyal but at some stage something has to give.”