Assistant manager Adam Flanagan hopes Herne Bay can make home advantage count in their battle against relegation from Isthmian Premier.

This Saturday, the basement boys are set to host fellow strugglers Corinthian-Casuals before a clash against Haringey on Tuesday at Winch’s Field.

Overall, five of their next seven scheduled matches at present are at home - where Bay have collected 10 of their 14 Isthmian Premier points this term - with the club having played once away since boss Kevin Watson and Flanagan came in during November.

The former Dartford joint-manager said: “Most teams will say, in terms of points reached over the course of the season, they expect their greater total will be reached at home.

“Our fanbase has been fantastic.

“Having home games is an advantage. We need to make sure we make the most of that advantage.

“We have had six [league] games and not one on grass!”

Bay, who saw scheduled trips to Kingstonian last weekend and Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday fall victim to the weather, now haven’t played competitively since January 7.

“It seems at the moment we build a bit of momentum and there’s a bit of positivity around, and then the next game is postponed,” noted Flanagan.

“When there’s that feel-good factor, you want games coming thick and fast. I think, after the first three draws we had, then we had a three-week spell where games were called off.

“Then we had a win against Bowers, although we’ve played better and lost.

“It’s been a bit stop-start at the moment. But we cannot control the elements, unfortunately.”

Flanagan also commented on the departure of midfielder Bode Anidugbe, who has taken what Herne Bay described as “a lucrative offer” to join Isthmian South East strugglers Faversham.

The midfielder will now play alongside striker Zak Ansah and winger Kieron Campbell at Salters Lane. All three last season helped Bay to promotion.

Flanagan said: “Bode is a great lad. He did really well for us.

“He’s someone we really liked. It’s disappointing that he’s left but that’s football.

“Without going into too much of what’s happening at Faversham, it’s something I believe he couldn’t turn down, especially with today’s financial cost-of-living issues.

“But he was well-liked around the group so it’s a shame on that front.”

Despite the departure of Anidugbe, Bay, who recently recruited French midfielder Yannis Drais, will remain selective on the players they sign.

“We have midfield options to be fair,” Flanagan said.

“It’s an area we feel we have lots of players who can come in and play different roles.

“With the amount of games we have got and the amount of injuries, we’re looking to make sure the squad strength is strong. There may be new faces coming but, to be fair to Kev, he has been very selective in the players we have got in.

“They need to enhance us.”

On-loan Maidstone attacker Tushaun Tyreece-Walters is set to return, although the experienced duo of left-back Jack Parter and midfielder Michael West are still sidelined.

Flanagan said: “Westy, if I had to put a time-scale to it, three or four weeks. Parts is maybe five weeks.

"That might improve or get worse, but that’s probably the kind of period of time we are working to.

“In terms of other players, TT had a little bit of a niggle. He will be back and available.

“I think everyone else is fit and available.”

Watson and Flanagan will host a management Q&A session at the clubhouse next Friday, starting at 7pm.

The Kingstonian trip has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 22. The game at Bishop's Stortford will be six days later.