Non-league football clubs in West Norfolk would benefit from King's Lynn Town Reserves getting promoted, according to Jonathan Hawes.

The Linnets' second string have announced they have applied to go up to if they win the Peterborough Premier Division. And with the United Counties League Division One not accepting reserve teams, Lynn would probably move into the Thurlow Nunn's lower tier next term.

Hawes said: 'If I was a Downham player, a Swaffham player, a Fakenham player, I'd want King's Lynn Town Reserves in the league. I'd want to go and play at The Walks in front of 150 people. It's a nice fixture to have and it sets up the rivalries and local derbies again for King's Lynn which the players, supporters, myself, managers, all enjoy so it would be a big boost (for local football).'

Lynn sit second, just two points behind promotion-chasing Netherton. Chris Ward has this term progressed to Gary Setchell's first-team squad while other youngsters – like Jack Frowhawk who scored his first senior goal on Tuesday – have also been tipped for bright futures.

Hawes added: 'The first team are at Step Three, the reserves are at Step Seven. So we need to keep progressing to keep that gap as narrow as we can so when our players make the step up it's not such a giant step.'

For more from Hawes, listen to the West Norfolk Sports Podcast at www.edp24.co.uk/wnsp later tonight.