By Steve Tervet

Simon Halsey has hit back at criticism from Herne Bay supporters following a run of poor results at Winch’s Field.

Ahead of Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Eastbourne Town, Bay had won just one of their previous 12 games, picking up only nine of a possible 36 points.

Halsey (pictured) has come under fire from Bay fans during that run and he admitted he was surprised given his record since succeeding Barry Morgan as manager in 2009.

After winning two League Cups in his first two seasons as Bay manager, Halsey led the club to the Kent League championship and the semi-finals of the FA Vase in 2011-12.

He said: "I find it disappointing. To be spoken about in the way I have been, I don’t think I deserve it. My stats prove I’m a winner. I don’t care what rubbish is flying around, they know I’m a winner. I hate losing.

"That’s their prerogative (to criticise), they’re allowed to do that. They can say what they like but we’ve got to shut the changing-room door and get on with it. It’s our domain in there.

"There is no negativity in the changing room. The players know we’re capable of winning every game."

Bay travel to Worthing on Saturday, the first of six games in the last 15 days of the season, and Halsey said: "The lads are fit and love their football. They won’t give anything less than 100%. They know what’s coming and we’ve got a big enough squad to cope with it."