GRAVESEND & Northfleet manager Andy Ford called on his players to rattle a few cages in a defiant response after Fleet were written off as Nationwide Conference relegation certainties by the bookmakers.

On the eve of the Fleet’s second campaign back in the Conference, Ford also found himself as favourite to become the first manager to be sacked at odds of 7-2.

As he prepared for Saturday’s season opener at home to Burton, Ford hit back saying: “My response to the players is let’s go out and rattle a few cages.

“The bookies have provided everyone at the club with the perfect motivation. I suppose we will always be among the favourites to be relegated from the Conference.

“We came into the Conference last season and we only just hung on to our place. We’ve also lost a couple of experienced players. But I love proving people wrong and I’ll build another team here that will stay up. I’ve no doubt about that.”

After an indifferent pre-season, there is speculation that Ford will shake up the team’s formation against Burton and play with three centre-backs in Francis Duku and Robin Trott with Adrian Pennock sweeping behind them.

As much as 80 per cent of Saturday’s side could comprise debutants with midfielder Steve Perkins forcing himself into consideration after signing at the weekend following his release by Aldershot.

But midfielder Jimmy Strouts looks to be heading out of the club after Ford said he could not guarantee him first-team football. Goalkeeper Lee Turner and James Bent have already been released.

Andrew Drury, newly signed from Sittingbourne, is out for a month with an ankle injury.

The Fleet play their second Conference game in four days on Tuesday when they visit Woking.