Manager Kevin Watson fundamentally believes in what he’s trying to do at Herne Bay - as they slip to the foot of the Isthmian Premier table.

Bay began 2023 with a 3-0 defeat on Monday at promotion-chasing Cray Wanderers. That result saw them go bottom, with fellow strugglers Brightlingsea earning a surprise 2-0 success over third-placed Bishop’s Stortford.

Watson felt after Bay’s 2-1 loss at home to Folkestone on Boxing Day anyone could beat anyone in the league and, while proven right, it’s yet to come to fruition for his own troops who haven’t earned a league win since he took charge in November.

“That comment from Boxing Day still stands,” he said.

“I think it’s been proven right in a few games now since. But it hasn’t proven right for us so far.

“While I think it exists, we need to make sure that we are on the positive end of that comment and it’s applicable to us, as well as it is to anybody else.”

Despite Watson’s winless run in the league, he has no doubts about his players’ commitment.

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“We had a bit of a debrief on Monday and a little bit of a reality check in the changing room afterwards with the players,” he said.

“I do believe that the vast majority of the players care and they’re trying to implement what we have tried to bring in, in terms of style of play, tactics and the way players conduct themselves and routines, habits, expectations and the disciplinary side of things.

“I fully acknowledge at this moment in time that’s not bearing fruit in terms of the results.

"But I do fundamentally believe in what we are doing and the intention behind it - the methodology, rationale and all those bits and pieces. The players are being receptive to it.

“I’m the most accountable person in terms of results on the pitch. The chairman [Stuart Fitchie] and the board, their responsibility primarily lies with the growth of the club and the off-the-field stuff, although they are incredibly supportive of the on-the-field side of things.

"But it falls to me [to improve results], ultimately, and I knew that when I came to the club.

“I was quite clear when I came to the club of the magnitude of the job at hand.”

Although results haven’t gone Bay’s way, Watson doesn’t think knee-jerk changes to his squad is the answer.

“It could have been quite different but it hasn’t been,” he said.

“Some of those draws could have been wins, the losses could have been different results, but we can’t hide behind the fact we are where we are in the table.

“We need to continue to work to continue to change that. I suppose the natural thing from an outside perspective is to think ‘Well personnel maybe needs to change’ because we haven’t made that many changes since we came in.

“There’s always players available for you to bring into a club but I’m very particular about the sort of people that will be suited to the project and what we are doing.

“So I think there could be a danger - and I think other clubs have fallen victim to it - where they made immediate changes in personnel.

“That can work but it can also not work.”