Stalwart opener Pete Hopson has been left to pick up the pieces with Havant sent reeling by the loss of a staggering SIX front line ECB Southern Premier Division players.
With the start of the competitive summer season only six weeks away, Hopson [above] has found himself catapulted into the captain's hot seat - something he didn't anticipate when Harry Gadd reportedly accepted an invitation to skipper the first team team at last November's annual meeting.
But in a surprise move, Gadd has decided to drop down a tier and play Division 1 cricket for Portsmouth and take in the fresh air on Southsea seafront.
Gadd isn't the only top order batsman to leave Havant - last year's captain Ben Walker has rejoined Bashley (Rydal), where he won a 2019 Premier championship medal, and wicketkeeper George Metzger has returned to his home town club, Basingstoke & North Hants after two short spells at the Park.
Basingstoke have been promoted back in to the Premier Division this season after a seven-year absence.
Havant's seam bowling has also been hit, with Sonny Reynolds returning to Waterlooville to play under the captaincy of his elder sibling Archie for last year's Division 2 winners.
Fellow seamer Richard Jerry, who battled against injury last summer, isn't expected to play and Portsmouth university student Kai Ziemkendorf has done his time in the city.
It's left Hopson, a first team regular since 2010 and accumulator of over 5000 Southern Premier Division runs, with only a handful of experienced team-mates.
The ageless Richard Hindley remains alongside Chris Morgan and Chris Stone, with teenager Ben Feeney an ideal fit behind the stumps.
The player exodus does mean talented youngsters like Charlie Whitfield, spin pair Freddie Gadd and Matty Hayward will get more opportunities, along with Harrison Barnard.
Havant are reportedly in talks with a West Australia Grade club about an overseas player for the upcoming season.
With the start of the competitive summer season only six weeks away, Hopson [above] has found himself catapulted into the captain's hot seat - something he didn't anticipate when Harry Gadd reportedly accepted an invitation to skipper the first team team at last November's annual meeting.
But in a surprise move, Gadd has decided to drop down a tier and play Division 1 cricket for Portsmouth and take in the fresh air on Southsea seafront.
Gadd isn't the only top order batsman to leave Havant - last year's captain Ben Walker has rejoined Bashley (Rydal), where he won a 2019 Premier championship medal, and wicketkeeper George Metzger has returned to his home town club, Basingstoke & North Hants after two short spells at the Park.
Basingstoke have been promoted back in to the Premier Division this season after a seven-year absence.
Havant's seam bowling has also been hit, with Sonny Reynolds returning to Waterlooville to play under the captaincy of his elder sibling Archie for last year's Division 2 winners.
Fellow seamer Richard Jerry, who battled against injury last summer, isn't expected to play and Portsmouth university student Kai Ziemkendorf has done his time in the city.
It's left Hopson, a first team regular since 2010 and accumulator of over 5000 Southern Premier Division runs, with only a handful of experienced team-mates.
The ageless Richard Hindley remains alongside Chris Morgan and Chris Stone, with teenager Ben Feeney an ideal fit behind the stumps.
The player exodus does mean talented youngsters like Charlie Whitfield, spin pair Freddie Gadd and Matty Hayward will get more opportunities, along with Harrison Barnard.
Havant are reportedly in talks with a West Australia Grade club about an overseas player for the upcoming season.