Hawks bow out of NLS with heaviest loss of dire season
Hawks chairman Derek Pope has thanked fans for their support during a miserable season - and pledged the announcement of a new head coach will be made shortly.
The club were relegated from the National League South with two games remaining of the sixth tier season.
Results elsewhere and Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing at Torquay - their heaviest defeat of the entire campaign - saw them eventually finish 10 points adrift of safety.
Hawks were 3-0 down at Plainmoor inside the opening half-hour to goals from Bradley Ash, a 35-yard wonder strike from Austen Booth and William Jenkinsdavies.
The latter added a fourth just before half-time with Arkell Jude-boyd completing the nap hand in the 82nd minute.
It was the eighth time this season in NLS action that Hawks had conceded four or more goals, as they ended with a ‘goals against’ tally of 92 - at an average of exactly two per game.
Prior to the last-day loss in Devon, Pope had written an open letter to fans.
“I would like to personally thank our loyal supporters and sponsors for their dedication and unwavering backing that they have given the club over recent times,” he said.
“We acknowledge that this season has been far from good enough. In spite of this, we have still been supported in great numbers throughout the campaign, home and away and as a club we are extremely grateful for this.
“The Board do recognise their mistakes in the appointments of previous management but it would be remiss to not express our gratitude for the Interim team (of Cliff de Gordon, Ross Betteridge and Richard Pope) who have led the turnaround since the start of December.”
“Despite a turnaround in performance and atmosphere in and around the club, we fell just short and unfortunately will be playing Step 3 football next season.
"We’ve done this journey before so hopefully we can make a start with this new chapter as we attempt to bounce back under a new Head Coach, who will shortly be announced.”