Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
UNITED BOSS ‘DISAPPOINTED’ AS RESULTS ARE EXPUNGED
HAYES & YEADING DISAPPOINTED THIS SEASON’S RESULTS HAVE BEEN EXPUNGED, BUT UNDERSTANDS WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE
PAUL HUGHES was understandably disappointed but philosophical on the news that the Southern League season is over and this season’s results have been expunged, declaring “it was a tough call for any governing body to make.”
The Hayes & Yeading United boss saw his side produce some excellent results this year in the Southern League Premier South to rise up the table as the in-form side.
They were in the play-off spots and rightly confident of possible back-to-back promotions, but for now the wider global picture rightly takes precedence.
He said: “It’s a very uncertain time. Nobody is quite sure how far this virus has spread and how many people are infected, so all we can do is what the government has decided and go into some sort of social lockdown. I think it makes sense.
“Any type of social distancing and social lockdown means we can’t all hunch together in a dressing room and go about our normal business.
“Fans can’t attend games and players can’t train together. With those restrictions in place, and with no idea how much longer those restrictions will be in place, it means the season had to end prematurely.
“What we have all ‘wondered’ is could the decision have been delayed another month to assess the situation then?
“With the start of next season possibly being pushed back, was there an opportunity to play the last 10 games of the season in June or July?
“I can see so many variables that may not make this possible and I’m sure the FA have thought about this with the correct advisory board at their side and made, what they feel, is the correct decision.
“From a personal, football only perspective, I’m not happy about the decision because I felt we were strong enough to get promoted this season.
“If we had been allowed to conclude the season I think we’d have been a strong bet to go up. Teams like Truro and Chesham must be even more disappointed than us because they were leading the division.
“There was an argument that the league should have been decided on a points-per-game basis, but there were too many variables there.
“For instance, teams with slightly easier run-ins and teams in the top eight that have got to play each other and possibly take points off each other.
“Teams ‘in form’ and teams ‘out of form’ at the latter stage of the season is also a key predictor for promotion winning teams and another thing to consider. How can you possibly come up with a formula that takes all these things into consideration? It’s too complicated to be totally fair to everyone.
He added: “I genuinely feel sorry for any club that was leading their division because a lot of effort and time would’ve been put in to get to that top spot.
“The one thing this game of football, and sport in general, tests is our resilience levels. We’re disappointed but we’re also very resilient and will adapt to any decisions that are made.
“If Hayes & Yeading United FC is anything, it’s resilient, and I know we will find a way to be stronger and even more dangerous next season.”
Looking at the wider picture, he reflected: “As for the decisions being made by the government, I think we all need to be responsible and abide by what we’re being told so we can halt this virus in its tracks.
“Although these decisions have affected our football season, our health is infinitely more important and I’m 100% behind the government’s approach to social distancing and social lockdown.
“I think big events like this make us realise how important our communities are and how important health and well-being is.
“Let’s hope whatever we learn from this period we can apply in our own lives moving forward. Breaking old habits and old ways of working that no longer serve us and create new habits that are more healthy is the way forward I think.”