Hythe boss Steve Watt is keen to resume training this week even if the return of Isthmian League football is delayed.

Watt is in the dark over the chances of action restarting on December 19.

That was the date scheduled by the league before the government announcement of the post-lockdown tier structure threw everything into the air.

With the majority of the South East Division coming under Tier 3 restrictions, ruling out fans at games, there seems little chance of fixtures going ahead as planned.

But with that decision due to be reviewed on December 16, things could get back on track should Kent be downgraded to Tier 2.

Watt understands there is going to be a league meeting tonight and hopes to have a better idea of the way forward after that.

Either way, he wants to get his players back on the training ground.

“I’ve literally no idea what’s happening,” said the Cannons boss.

“If I were a betting man I’d imagine the season will probably be pushed back a week or two, in order for the tiers to be reviewed, but that’s a pure guess.

“We were meant to be back on the 19th, the fixtures were out, and then this tier system is announced and it puts it in jeopardy.

“The tiers are reviewed on the 16th, so it could all look different again, and we will be able to have fans back.

“My way of thinking is that we’re going to be playing at some point in the next few weeks, so we need to get out on the training pitch getting those fitness levels back and preparing as best we can and wait for guidance.

“Everyone’s in the same boat at the end of the day. We just have to try and get on with it. As far as I’m concerned, I’d like the boys back in training on Thursday.

“We were supposed to be playing Welling Town in a friendly at Hythe on Saturday and we had one pencilled in the following week too. I don’t know what will happen there.

“It’s just frustrating that you get the fixtures released and you’re looking forward to getting back in the swing of things and then the next day the tiers are announced.

“Surely there could have been some correspondence with the governing bodies, warning them, so they could have held back on the fixtures.

“That sums up everything that’s going on with the pandemic. I wouldn't want to be running the country.”

Hythe were due to play four games in nine days at the resumption, with a hectic schedule increased by a rearranged home match against Sittingbourne on December 22.

The original match was postponed minutes before kick-off after it emerged the Cannons were waiting on several Covid-19 results.

Sittingbourne could have been awarded the points but Watt said: “The league were brilliant. Given the circumstances, I believe common sense has prevailed.

“We could have done without four games in nine days but that’s another matter.

“We just want to get the games started and we’ll do what we have to do.”

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