I just want to be in and around the play-offs for when our fans come back. I want to give them something to come back for, says Bromley boss Neil Smith

BROMLEY manager Neil Smith says he wants supporters to return to Hayes Lane.

The Lillywhites are now in ninth-place in the Vanarama National League table following last night’s hard-fought battle during a 1-1 draw at home to Boreham Wood.

Smith’s side have collected 11 points from their opening seven games and are a couple of points adrift of the play-off zone.

The club have provided a very professional live streaming service that includes match commentary and a post-match interview with Smith and a player – but it’s not the same without the Hayes Lane faithful inside the iconic Hayes Lane.

“We do miss them and the support we get,” said Smith, whose side have now lost just once in their last five league outings.

“We get Tweets and messages coming in and we hope that the screening is good and they get value for money. We’re trying to do our best to make them still feel involved and they are so important to us.

“I just want to be in and around the play-offs for when they come back.  I want to give them something to come back for.

“I want them to come in, we want to say how thankful we are to them still supporting us, even though they can’t be here.

“The only way we can do that is winning games and hopefully get them in the play-off area for when they come back.”

Premier League, EFL Championship, EFL League One, EFL League Two, National League, National League North and National League South teams have been able to play but behind closed doors.

Clubs in the Isthmian League and the Southern Counties East League are currently banned from playing due to the second national lockdown imposed by the UK Government and await a decision to see if they can resume from 5 December.

“Listen, we’ve got to make sure we save lives and we don’t put pressure on the NHS – I get all that,” said Smith, who takes his side to fourth-placed Maidenhead United on Saturday.

“I just hope there is a vaccine that can get the people an opportunity to come in - how many numbers there are - but we do miss them and we do appreciate them and hopefully when that day comes when they’re coming through we’ll show our appreciation for working our socks off until they come in.

“I’d rather be playing, we missed it when it wasn’t there and it was lockdown and stuff like that, so we’re actually privileged to be doing what we want to do, training and playing and we’re not going to moan about that.”

#Letfansin

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net