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Danny Kedwell has made a surprise move away from Hollands & Blair following the shutdown of Southern Counties East.
The former Gillingham captain has rejoined National South Havant, with Blair’s league season on hold until at least the start of December following new lockdown measures.
Kedwell leaves Star Meadow with Blair’s blessing and is back in full-time football at the age of 37 after accepting an offer from Hawks boss Paul Doswell.
He scored 13 goals last season as Havant made the play-offs but left to concentrate on a project to build his own training ground in Gravesend.
That’s all on track, with construction set to start in January, which frees up Kedwell to return to Havant.
“I always promised Piggy (Blair co-chairman Paul Piggott) I would play for him one day, which is why I went to Blair, but I don’t know how long this lockdown is going to last,” said Kedwell.
“I’ve stayed in touch with Paul Doswell so I spoke to him and he said do you fancy coming back and playing some football?
“That’s what I’ve decided to do and with losing in the play-offs last season, going down to 10 men and me being taken off at half-time, I feel like there’s unfinished business for me.
"I didn’t want it to end that way.”
Whether Kedwell returns to Blair depends on how things pan out at Havant.
He added: “I’ve left Blair at the minute - I was non-contract anyway - and we’ll just see how it goes.
“I can’t keep sitting around waiting to play again - this lockdown might be more than a month - and you’ve got to look out for your family.
“Blair have been great - they’re an unbelievable club.
"The whole set-up, from the management to the chairmen and the boys, they’re magnificent, and they all understand why I’ve done this.
"They all said you’ve got to go for it.
“I’ve really enjoyed my football at Blair but unfortunately this lockdown has come up and it’s changed everything.
“I’m sure it won’t just be me - loads of boys in the league will probably go and do the same because you want to be playing if you can.”
Kedwell played in midfield for Blair, scoring four goals, but he’ll be back up front for Havant.
He’s training tomorrow and could feature against Dulwich on Wednesday night.
The veteran frontman has no doubt he’ll be able to handle the step back up.
He said: “I’m the sort of player who goes with the flow. In my head and my heart I believe I can play at any level.
“Others might not be so sure but I’ll always give 110 per cent and I’m sure I’ll be OK.
“I might take me a couple of weeks to get back into training three days a week and getting used to the full-time thing but I’ll get there.
“We’ve got training tomorrow, a game Wednesday, training Friday and a game Saturday, so it’s a good little clump of training and matches to get up to speed.
“I don’t know if Dos will start me, he might want to build me up, but I can definitely still do a job.
"When I’m with my academy I do the running with the boys three or four times a week, so I’ve kept myself fit.”
Havant beat Cray Valley in the FA Cup yesterday but Kedwell won't feature in round two - he's cup-tied after turning out for Blair in the qualifying rounds.
