BRETT'S CANARIES AIMING TO FLY HIGH AGAIN!

BRETT DONNELLY admits Hitchin Town's late reprieve undid their initial hard work preparing for a Step 4 promotion push-but now the Canaries can't wait to ruffle some Southern Premier Central feathers.

- Matt Badcock

The Hertfordshire outfit have been handed another chance at Step 3 after Coalville Town's shock resignation from the National League System. Just as two years ago when Walton Casuals quit at a similar stage, the FA kept the reprieve in the same division to minimise disruption.

The Southern League Division One Central will run one short with a total of 21 teams.

Boss Donnelly took over from legendary boss Mark Burke at the back end of the 2023-24 season and had been busy rebuilding his squad following relegation.

And while it has presented a recruitment headache, the former Stotfold manager says they're back on track.

"The last month we've been working hard to get players in and selling the dream of promotion and all that," Donnelly told The NLP. "The lads were all up for that, deals were agreed.

"It's good we're going back up. But, at the same time, some lads are like, "Travelling, work commitments, need a bit more'. Around our way we are competing with teams shelling out good money.

"But we've managed to get some in, the lads who were umming and ahhing have decided they will have a go.