When Hugo Langton left Welling United at the beginning of the New Year many predicted it wouldnt take the popular Kent coach long to be re-employed in the game. Indeed by the following month he was named as the new Lewes FC Mens manager.
Kent Sports News caught up with Langton to discuss his first few months in the job and his response to the FA decision to end the season.
Whilst Langton finding a new job wasnt a surprise the destination, Sussex based club Lewes, caught a few off guard when he was announced as the new manager in February.
“I’ve known the Lewes chairman Stuart Fuller for about 10 years” said Langton.
“We have always spoken on and off about many different things. Lewes had just lost 1-6 at home and he reached out to sound me out about coming in to help for the rest of the season. I’ve really enjoyed it, its been challenging to say the least, as there were many things to fix. When you go into a job you need to allow for around two weeks for all the problems to come to the surface. So whilst you need to be patient you also need to try and breathe some energy back into the team. I’ve really enjoyed it, the players have been superb and they have given me everything”.
Lewes as a club have won several plaudits in football for their forward thinking approach to the game and their community work. Making waves for ensuring equal pay and status amongst its men and womens teams, Langton acknowledges he has joined a club with huge potential.
“The club is really well run, and its unique that a club would treat its Men and Women team the same. To me it has unified the club, and its clearly run as a whole club, not just as the Mens team and then everyone else. The recent pandemic has brought everyone closer together and the community of Lewes closer together. This is important as a football club should be seen to be at the heart of the community”.
However no sooner had Langton got his feet under the table registering his first win as manager, 2-1 against Haringey Borough, than the football season from step three to seven was brought to a permanent halt. Despite his disappointment Langton feels ultimately a decision had to be made by the FA with some bound to be disappointed no matter what.
“I am firmly sitting on the fence here I’m afraid. If they (the FA) decide we can continue then that’s fine with me. If they wanted to do points per game that is also fine with me as we’d picked up enough points lately to see us safe. If they confirm and ratify the expunging of the season as what’s been currently decided, then we also stay as we are. I do see the other side of it, but I also feel people don’t necessarily understand the full scale of the seriousness and longevity of the current pandemic”.
Yet despite the season being curtailed at step three and below, at the time of writing, no firm decision has been taken with regards to the National League. Having announced on 31st March that their season is to be suspended indefinitely. This leaves step 1 and 2 in limbo with no formal end announced. The decision has baffled many in non-league football with the National League seemingly trying to straddle itself between EFL decisions and marrying up with the non-league pyramid at the same time.
Langton shares the confusion of many, he added “they have to remain optimistic, but I think as time goes on it will probably become evident that the season is over for everyone. If they say we can all restart the season in June, then what happens? Players are out of contact in May and may have agreed to move on elsewhere. What about clubs who may have operate on less money and cannot fill the void of the departed players with a similar standard of player”.
Like many managers and players, however, Langton finds himself having to find new ways to occupy himself whilst we await the ‘end’ of the pandemic.
“I wouldn’t say it was a welcome break, far from it. Football is my job and I have no other qualifications or skills. I could work in a shop but they’re all shut! However we have to adapt and try and find ways of staying positive”.
He continued, “I have done things I wouldn’t normally do like play my guitar or brush up on my Spanish, and I’m actually using the time to get fitter and stronger. Schooling my children is interesting, but we are getting through it and trying to have some fun along the way, its harder for the kids as they are isolated from playing with their friends. The only thing that matters is that we all stay healthy, stay at home and look after each other best we can”
Langton is certain football will eventually return but doesnt expect a seamless transition suggesting there will be a period of adaptation before things eventually get back to ‘normal’. Ultimately however he is keen to stress that football is secondary to the needs of all to stay as safe as possible echoing the thoughts of many with his rallying cry.
“Stay home, listen to the advice we are being given, stay healthy, exercise, and look after your families and neighbours”.