Ashford United co-owner Lloyd Hume questions fairness of expanded Isthmian League play-offs

Co-owner Lloyd Hume isn’t a fan of the new Isthmian League play-off format - even though it could benefit Ashford United.

There will be two extra spots up for grabs next season, with six teams qualifying for the end-of-season play-offs.

It’s a system the National League have followed for some time, whereby teams finishing second and third automatically qualify for a home semi-final, while fourth plays seventh and fifth meets sixth in eliminator ties.

Ashford finished ninth in Isthmian South East last season and while there’s no pressure on manager Craig Stone to get promoted in his first full season in charge, the extended format potentially boosts their chances of reaching Step 3.

Hume, however, isn’t convinced it’s a great idea.

“People keep saying to me, how do you think Ashford will do this year?” said Hume.

“If we stay injury-free, I genuinely believe we’ll be contending for the play-offs, comfortably.

“But if Craig’s unlucky with injuries and we have crucial injuries to crucial players at the wrong time, it’s a lottery.

“There is no pressure on Craig, there’s no pressure on him in any way. It’s a case of let’s do better than we did last year and we’ll see where that takes us.

“Better than last year, with the new play-off format, could put us in the play-offs because we’ve only got to finish in the top seven.

“It’s gone to the same format as the National League, so you could finish seventh and end up beating the team that finishes second, which I’m not the biggest fan of.

“If you think, Sittingbourne, not last year but the year before, they finished second with over 100 points and didn’t get promoted. If you got over 100 points and lost to a team who got 70 points, I don’t see how that’s fair in a one-off game, so