Faversham boss Ray Turner has launched an impassioned defence of his job as the gloom around the club deepened with the departure of top scorer Dean Grant.

Town have been to the play-offs in three of the last four seasons but Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Hastings in their first game without 17-goal Grant (pictured) – who has joined Hythe – was their eighth in their last 11 Ryman League, Division 1 South games.

The Lilywhites have lost 11 of their opening 21 games, having been beaten in just 13 games in the whole of last season and only nine in each of their two other play-off campaigns.

Turner said: “It feels like one of those seasons where you never know what’s coming next. Our FA Cup run (to the third qualifying round) seems a long time ago now.

“On Saturday, we saw probably the strongest squad we have seen this season. We were trying to make it back-to-back wins and get some momentum going. Then the game gets called-off due to the fog and Dean decides his future lies elsewhere.

“It’s frustrating. We have to accept it, it’s the nature of the world. As a club and as a manager, you invest a lot of time into developing a player.

“He’s left twice and come back to us twice and resurrected his career. The club have done well by him.

“You want players that want to be part of what you are trying to build at a club. It will be interesting to see how it works out for him at Hythe.”

Turner admitted his side are “in a bit of a predicament” but added: “It’s up to us to rise to the challenge now. We need the guys we have to stick together. I’m not one to rip everything up and start again with six or seven new players.

“Sometimes the easy thing is to walk away but that’s not what I’m about. Ultimately, it’s not up to me but I believe I am up to the job and that my record stands up against anyone at this level but I also know it’s not about what you’ve done in the past.”

Turner has been working to to strengthen his squad but added: “It’s not easy. Players that are better than what we already have are generally tied up. We need to put our efforts into developing the players that want to be here.”

Town host Sittingbourne on Boxing Day (3pm).