Hawks swoop to bring in Andrews
Torquay loanee Jake will boost a depleted squad
Hawks have secured the signing of Torquay United's Jake Andrews on loan until the end of the season.
The versatile left-sided player, 24, provides a valuable addition to boss Paul Doswell's squad after Michael Green's decision to retire earlier this month.
Former Bristol City and Cheltenham man Andrews, whose current deal at Plainmoor comes to an end in the summer, arrives with just three National League appearances under his belt for Gary Johnson's Gulls this season.
But he was a prominent part in helping guide the Gulls to a second-placed finish in the fifth tier last term, featuring 41 times and scoring five goals across the 2020-21 campaign.
Doswell admitted Andrews arrives a little under-cooked in terms of competitive minutes, but the Hawks boss believes his decision to swap south Devon for Westleigh Park for the remainder of the season displays his hunger to get back playing more regularly.
Doswell said: ‘He’s a player that we know well, he’s been excellent for Torquay in their two previous seasons - he helped them win the National South (in 2018/19) - he was very much a key player for them and they nearly won the National League last season.
‘He’s fallen out of favour, I think that’s fair to say, this year. For us, he’s a player who we were very keen to bring in once we knew he would be available.
‘He’s a good lad, he’s only 24, with a good grounding at Bristol City. I’m really, really pleased and happy to get him.
‘He’s a young player who wants to play. For him to up sticks and come to Havant shows his desire to want to get on the football pitch and play - I think that’s always a good thing.’
Andrews will go straight into the Hawks squad for tomorrow's National League South trip to Eastbourne Borough.
It provides a welcome boost for the manager, who will be without Josh Passley after the right-back was taken off with concussion against Bath City.
Doswell, meanwhile, will again be in the stands serving the third game of a six-match FA suspension.
He was handed the ban early last week after being charged by the governing body regarding a touchline bust-up with Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb in February.
The charge, published on the FA website, stated ‘Breach of FA Rule E3.1 - It is alleged that in or around the 42nd minute of the fixture, the Participant’s language and/ or behaviour was abusive and/or insulting and/ or improper, contrary to Rule E3.1. It is further alleged that this breach of FA Rule E3.1 is an “Aggravated Breach” as defined in Rule E3.2, as it included a reference (express or implied) to nationality.’ Doswell has also been ordered to attend an FA face-to-face education course following an incident in last February’s league meeting with Ebbsfleet.
Both Doswell and Dennis Kutrieb were sent-off in the Hawks’ 2-1 defeat in what was their last NL South game of last season.
Doswell sat in the stand at Westleigh Park for the first two games of his six-match suspension - the 2-2 draw with Dulwich Hamlet on December 1 and the following Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Bath City.