Mike West is urging the Herne Bay fans to stick with the team.

West is in temporary charge after Ben Smith stepped down as Bay boss less than six months after leading them to promotion in the play-offs.

Second-bottom Bay were beaten 3-2 in Isthmian Premier at home to Carshalton on Tuesday.

But after trailing 3-0 at half-time at Winch’s Field in front of a crowd of 340, an encouraging second-half display saw Kieron Campbell and Rory Smith score to set up an interesting finish.

“Hang on in there because I know it’s tough,” said West, when asked if he had a message for the club’s supporters.

“It’s tough for me on the side watching, so I know what it’s like for them. All I ask from them is to keep singing - like they always do - and to support us as much as they can.

“We are trying our utmost. I slept on Monday for probably about four hours because my phone was going at 11.30pm - which my missus was fuming about! She loves her beauty sleep.

• Bay chairman on the club's managerial vacancy

“But just hang on in there with us because we are trying and doing the best we can with what we’ve got.”

West said it had been a tough few days personally having helped Bay to promotion on loan from Ebbsfleet last season before he made the move a permanent one in the summer.

He said: “It’s tough for me because I get on really well with Smithy.

“Smithy and Stu Fitchie, the chairman, were the main reasons why I came here because I had a fair few options to go elsewhere. They were the main reasons why I signed here this year so, on that part, it’s tough.

“I can’t believe how busy my phone has been for the past two days! I’ve never had to charge my phone twice a day my whole life.

“That’s frustrating so I do hope we manage to get a manager within the next week or so.”

It was a first taste of management for 31-year-old West - but isn’t something he wants to do long term just yet.

West, who was set to discover the extent of a possible hernia injury on Wednesday, said: “I hated it! I’m nowhere near ready to become a manager because I feel, at least, I have five or six years left in me.”

Although Herne Bay are marooned in the relegation zone, West thinks there’s a great opportunity for whoever the new boss will be, with a new 3G pitch this summer having been put down at Winch’s Field.

“We are not that far off it and we are nowhere near a bottom-four team,” he insisted. “But it’s just about these fine margins.

“Unfortunately where a team in mid-table is getting a point out of that game, unfortunately, we’re not getting the rub of the green. But we have the ability, there’s talent out there.

“Second half, we restricted Carshalton to one chance and they’re a decent team. Steve McKimm is a great manager.

"They’re a tough team to score against so, for us to score two against them, I think they have a great defensive record anyway, so that’s good.

"But not getting a point is so frustrating.”

Bay host Canvey Island this Saturday before a Kent Senior Cup clash at Ramsgate on Tuesday. Overall, nine out of their next 12 fixtures are due to be at home.

West said: “This season was always going to be tough and we needed to be big on recruitment. We are in the position we are in, we can’t do too much about it at the moment, all we can do is change it going forward and, hopefully, results pick up for us.

“Hopefully being at home will make a difference. I do think, no pre-season here, not being in front of our fans, that all adds up. That’s not me making excuses.

“First half, it was quite quiet in the stadium but, second half, it seemed like a different place. I do think being at home - if the fans keep coming and we really do appreciate them - hopefully moving forward, it does pick up.”

Midfielder Charlie Weston, returning centre-back Luke Ilsley and left-back Kacper Gruszczynski came into the Herne Bay team against Carshalton.