Deal Town manager Derek Hares admits he has taken a "long hard look at himself" in the wake of the club’s current losing run.

The 3-1 home defeat by Corinthian in the Kent League Premier Division Cup on Saturday was Deal’s sixth reverse in their last seven games and Hares, in his seventh year in charge at the Charles Ground, said: "The last three or four weeks have been the worst of my career as a manager and yes, I have questioned whether I should carry on.

"I know I’m not irreplaceable and if I thought a new man could do any better at the moment then I would step down. But the board understand the difficult position I’m in.

"We are still trying to pay off the debts that were built up during our off-the-field problems of the past year and until the club is stabilised financially, then my hands are pretty much tied.

"In the circumstances, I think I have done pretty well to bring in players like David Cory and Jake Eastwood in recent weeks and, to be honest, I know that if I leave, then four or five players will as well.

"I asked (assistant manager) Andy Bigginton after Saturday’s game whether he thought I should quit and he said ‘what would be gained by doing that now?’ But if this bad run continues until Christmas, then we will have to take another look at it."

Hares has signed midfielder Joe Hitchings, who was a regular in Whitstable’s Ryman League side last season and the manager added: "The fact players like Joe and David Cory are still prepared to come and play for us shows that they don’t think Deal Town is a lost cause. I honestly believe that five or six months down the road things will look a lot better."

Hitchings will be in the squad for Saturday’s league game at Sevenoaks. Deal were originally scheduled to be at home again this weekend, with Norton Sports the visitors but that fixture has now been switched to a week on Saturday.