Herne Bay manager Ben Smith has spoken of his disappointment that the season’s results have been expunged.

Herne Bay chairman Stuart Fitchie is one of a number of club Chairmen from Steps three to seven who has signed a letter delivered to the FA regarding their frustration at having their season expunged.

His manager – Ben Smith – has been talking to KSN… and in the first of a two-part interview, the Bay boss isn’t happy either!

Smith started with a frank admission. “We as a club had dreams that we’d carry on and secure a Play Off spot. We’re realists that we had a shot at promotion but it was a lesser chance than some of the others,” he said, “but having said all that and knowing that they weren’t going to do the Play Offs meaning it wouldn’t have happened and that they weren’t going to continue the season, surely then they must go on points per games played after twenty-nine or thirty games which is around eighty percent of everyone’s season, you’ve got to count something haven’t you?” the Bay boss almost pleaded.

“And the fact that they’ve said all results are “expunged”, that just serves the whole of Non-League a massive discredit for all they hours that everyone has put into it.”

“There are some who will say that quite rightly we shouldn’t even be talking about football but seriously what else are we going to do? We’re stuck indoors and it’s something that we’re really passionate about, so we’re going to talk about it!”

“Yes, obviously it doesn’t stand up to what we’re all dealing with with the pandemic – it’s got no relevance at all; it pales into insignificance, of course it does.”

“We do have to talk about these things, and we’ve got our views on it about what’s going on and our view is that they (the FA) have effectively done the dirty on Non-League basically!”

“I’m no medical expert but I know that from working in schools that it just hit us and of course has taken a lot of people out of work at the moment and paralyzed the Country really!”

“They’ve certainly made their decision on us being in “lock-down” and I think to null and void the season, the decision has definitely been made too quickly.”

“There’s a big argument that everyone should be treated the same – they’re all about inclusion, equality and all that sort of stuff that the FA preach, well this is the prime example as to put that out there at the moment.”

“I very much doubt that the Premier League will get the same answer as there’s too much television money at stake at the highest level. A lot of the clubs are contractually obligated to sponsors and image rights and that will undoubtedly get the Premier League pull in one direction and you’d hope that the FA would be pulling in the other direction.”

“That said, how can Liverpool not win the title this year – all that hard work; it would be a travesty!”

“But if you look around the Leagues – Jersey Bulls have smashed it this season winning all their games; something like 99 goals and only seven conceded and they’re not going to go up? Bear in mind they were already Champions before football stopped… yet they’re still not going up!”