Gary Elphick: Hastings United players were best bunch of human beings I’ve worked with

Elphick and his No2 Jon Meeney have quit The Pilot Field at the end of a season in which United finished eighth in the Isthmian premier division – a year after being promoted from the south east division as champions.

Elphick, who was already at the club as a player, took over as manager in November 2021 after Chris Agutter resigned. He, Meeney and Andrew Brown guided Hastings to the Isthmian south east title – and looked like they might take the team to the premier division play-offs this season, only to fall just short.

It seems worries over the club’s ability to carry on competing on a similar playing budget – at a time when they are facing a crunch decision over where their future lies – convinced Elphick to quit now.

Elphick told the Hastings Observer and sussexworld.co.uk last week he needed clarity over the direction of the club before he could start to plan for the 2023-24 season.

He said today (May 3) his decision had followed talks with the board.

United have been trying to get the go-ahead to move to a purpose-built new stadium at Tilekiln, but the council has put the brakes on the project – and has still not told United’s bosses whether they will be able to move on to the site, where planning permission for the new facilities is already in place.

Without being able to move, United face having to spend a six-figure sum on renovations at the ageing Pilot Field so they can stay there – yet the owners have already spent large sums on the Tilekiln project.