Boss Michael Golding has played down Corinthian’s Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off prospects.

The Hoops sit fourth and are just seven points behind early leaders Glebe with a game in hand.

They were beaten 1-0 at Bearsted last weekend, though, and Golding expects Corinthian to be battling it out in the middle echelons of the table - but knows a shot at promotion could still be there for the taking if they can earn a top-five finish and they become the first to be victorious in the new play-offs.

Golding said: “I think the league is starting to take shape now and you’re starting to see where roughly teams are going to be, although there’s, obviously, still a long way to go.

“You’re probably starting to see three mini leagues.

“You have got the top eight, there’s a couple of teams - us included - that probably won’t be in there and will fight it out for the middle places. But the play-offs keep it interesting for the likes of Bearsted and possibly ourselves that will keep fighting and see what we can do, as the season goes on.

“Then, you have got the bottom five or six sides that probably will be there for most of the season.”

Corinthian gained promotion to the Isthmian League in 2021 as part of the FA’s reshuffle following two non-completed seasons due to Covid.

The next season, champions Sheppey and Chatham were promoted as they racked up the points in incredible fashion.

Golding thinks the division has become stronger towards the foot of the table, where teams are now investing heavily in their bid for survival, but isn’t convinced those at the top-end of the division are as strong as both Sheppey and Chatham were.

“You’re always going to have teams that want to spend big,” said Golding.

“I don’t think Bearsted’s budget is small by any stretch and it shows because they were good on Saturday.

“The top-end maybe isn’t as strong as what it was when you had the likes of Corinthian, Sheppey, Chatham and Beckenham fighting it out. But even before that, Ashfords and Crowboroughs were spending money. People will always spend money in SCEFL to get out of it.

“I’ve previously said the level has dropped and I’m not sure the league is as strong. On reflection, I still stand by what I said, although the bottom end has got a bit stronger where teams are still spending money on players at the bottom end that, historically, weren't there. That pushes everything up.

“If you look at Lydd and Snodland, they’ve come into the division and I fully expect them to get into the play-offs. Historically, you have had teams come up and take three or four years before they then have kicked on.

“Sutton Athletic, Punjab United and Bearsted are all cases of that. They have grown gradually whereas those two have chucked money at it.

“Fair play to them. I have got no issue with it. That makes it a bit tougher for a side like us.

“Do I think the division is better for it? No. I don’t think it’s as good as what it was.

“But I think there’s improvements where the strength has gone to the bottom end rather than the top end.”

Golding himself is now well beyond the five-year mark at the Gay Dawn Farm club.

He says the motivation to keep going is still there for him - but it has changed from the days when they were battling at the top-end of the division.

“There’s times where it’s a little bit tougher,” he explained. “It’s maybe not as enjoyable as what it was when you’re at the top end, challenging and maybe the motivation has changed slightly.

“We used to go up against the Chathams and the Sheppeys - the big-spending clubs - and that was the motivator. That was the thing that got me going to try and beat them. Maybe that’s not there as much now.

“But we’re working with youngsters who have got an opportunity to establish themselves and have an opportunity to get a foot in, in senior football. That’s probably the motivator now.

“I’ve got an unbelievable management team around me. When it gets tough, we’re all in it together. We enjoy being involved in football. The play-offs make it exciting and an attractive prospect. Are we going to be there?

“We’ll keep fighting - that will never change - and if I can’t convince the players we can win the league or win the play-offs, then I’m not doing my job.

“I suppose the motivation is still there and the enjoyment levels are still there.

“It’s just slightly different to what it had been before.”

Golding was speaking shortly after Corinthian’s defeat at Bearsted as the Bears held a presentation to mark their boss, Kevin Stevens, moving beyond 400 games in charge of them.

Stevens’ opposite number on the day said: “Fair play to Kev. He’s a good guy and he’s been here for a number of years - more than 400 games!

“I think he does a lot for Bearsted Football Club and they’re probably quite lucky to have someone like Kev still around. There’s some others in the division that have done a good number of games.

“It keeps us away from Bluewater, it keeps us away from birthday parties on a Saturday afternoon, so long may that continue.”