Ray Turner has issued a rallying cry to his Faversham players, urging the club to pull together to get through his toughest spell in football.

Town boss Turner says he feels he is ‘letting people down’ after the Lilywhites – perennial challengers towards the top of Ryman League, Division 1 South – fell 17 points behind the play-off pace to sit just nine ahead of the drop-zone in 14th place.

The 1-0 defeat at leaders Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday was followed by a 2-1 reverse at East Grinstead on Tuesday night – Lilywhites’ seventh loss in their last nine games.

Turner said: “These are difficult times. Those who saw the performance levels and the chances we have created would agree it’s hard to explain how we have not picked up six points from our last two games.

“On a normal day with normal confidence, we’d have won those games comfortably. If we had, you’d be asking me about the top-six but as it is, we’re closer to the bottom-three than the play-offs.

“It’s a wretched spell, there is no getting away from it. The fact is we’ve lost 10 games already and we can’t hide from that.”

Turned refused to blame his players for Town’s current plight and vowed to stand together ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chipstead, with Town seeking to improve their away record of just seven points from nine away games this season.

Turner said: “Football is judged on results and anyone judging on results will say we’re in free-fall. It’s time to close ranks a bit and just concentrate on the next game.

“It’s down to myself, the staff and players to show we are good enough and maintain our belief in that.

“I have not experienced this kind of run before and while (assistant) Clive Walker has had them in the past, they are rare.

“Ultimately, the manager is responsible but while my part is getting the right team out there in a certain structure, the decision making is split-seconds on the pitch and that is what it is down to at the moment.”

Turner added: “I’m not one to get too down but I am clearly disappointed. The club have been a massive part of my life and I feel like I’m letting people down.

“Over the past few years we have created expectation and we should be proud of that. This is not the time for throwing in the towel. Everyone is hurting.

“You can either let it beat you or you come back from it.”

Town are away to Dulwich in the third round of the Ryman League Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm).