Coronavirus battle: Boss ends four year reign with promotion hunt over

The battle against the coronavirus has led to Richard Luffman ending his four year tenure managing Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division leaders Alresford Town.
The Magpies were four points clear at the top of the table when the FA announced the season was over on Thursday with the campaign’s results declared null and void.
Luffman, who joined Alresford from Hampshire Premier League Otterbourne after the club folded after 53 years in 2016, promised to go at the start of the season if the club was not promoted and stuck to his word despite the unprecedented circumstances.
Luffman said: “I’d like to personally wish everyone connected with Alresford FC well during this period and thank everyone for a wonderful four seasons.

Statement from the manager. ?RL

Everyone is extremely dissapointed with the decision that has been made and this will have huge ramifications on our football club.
Whilst football isn’t the top of everyone’s priorities at the moment we are naturally gutted.
— Alresford Town FC (@AlresfordTown) March 26, 2020

“We were in my opinion on course to complete a title winning season. Now all that time and effort was deemed to be for nothing.”
Playing out of Alrebury Park, Alresford Town was established in 1898 as members of the Winchester & District League.

The FA Statement we received yesterday. pic.twitter.com/oCQS55BdbV

— SydenhamsWessex (@SydWessex) March 17, 2020

Make sure you get your copy of The Non-League Paper on Sunday to read all the latest news from across Non-League over the last seven days on the growing impact of the coronavirus crisis on the game and society. It’s also available from midnight on Saturdays as a pound-busting digital edition and full replica of the printed paper!
Image courtesy of @AlresfordTown/Twitter