Chatham Town’s play-off defeat last week hasn’t dampened the chairman’s ambition - he’s still targeting the Football League.

It’s been a dream of Hake’s since taking over at Chatham in 2017 and back-to-back promotions have got him a little closer. They lost the Isthmian Premier Division final on Monday but the club chairman - who is also the manager - didn’t expect it to be straightforward.

Salford City have shown what can be done but even their five promotions towards the Football League took nine seasons. Bromley are a team closer to home who are the newest members of the EFL.

“We will return and we will get into the EFL,” Hake declared, with the season now over.

“I might not be the man who finishes the job but this club will be in the EFL, trust me.”

Hake was far from despondent after their play-off final loss. While he knew it was a missed opportunity on Monday, he also knows how far the club has come in a short space of time.

He said: “This is all part of the story, part of the journey. I say it tongue and cheek but you don’t want to get there too quick!

“The guys have done great, on and off the field, and long may it continue.”

Chatham won their play-off semi-final against Horsham in front of 3,000 fans and there was another capacity crowd there for the final.

“It has been unbelievable,” Hake said.

“We sold the final out within 24 hours and that was manual tickets as well, nothing was released online because we wanted to make sure it was Chatham fans who rightfully got to the game because they deserved to, and it wasn’t just anyone turning up.

“It’s been amazing, but it’s just the start and I’ve said I want this club to be in the EFL one day and we only have to look at Bromley and the marvelous stuff that they have done and I was there (at Wembley) to witness (their National League play-off win). That is what we have to aim towards.

“It wasn’t too long ago that they were where we are.

“I was pleased to see them go up and hopefully we can emulate that in the not so distant future.”

Chatham finished second in the Isthmian Premier Division this season - some way behind champions Hornchurch. Hake’s men will be back for another challenge next season.

Having experienced so many highs - including back-to-back promotions - Hake said: “The club is on the up and that’s football, sometimes you don’t get it.

“You only have to look at Hornchurch, they lost the play-off final and went and won the league the following year, they are the heights we need to get to now, so we don’t leave it to the lottery of the play-offs.

“There is nothing to fear in this division, as we have seen. We have learned a hell of a lot, we are quick learners, on and off the field as well and we will look to give it a good go next year.”

Chatham’s Bauvill Stadium was limited to a 3,000 capacity for the play-offs and Hake knows they have work to do off the pitch too as they look to keep the first-team and the club in sync.

He said: “Those crowds were nice to see and something I need to do is working on increasing the ground capacity to see where the club can be taken to. In reality, I think we could have had 6-7000 there (for the play-off games), which would have been great.

“It has been tricky (keeping speed) but now I can start my work, on and off the field, with the players we need to talk to and get on with improving the ground and keeping the club moving forward.”