Manager Sam Denly hopes he will be given time to get things right at Hythe Town.

Denly is feeling the pressure with the Cannons eight points adrift of the play-offs in Bostik South East.

He admits they've under-achieved this season having started the campaign as one of the promotion favourites.

But Denly has vowed to keep working hard and repay the faith shown in him by chairman Paul Markland.

He said: "I’m not going to lie, it’s been a really hard time for me.

"There’s pressure to do well and the buck stops with me, I understand that. It’s a difficult time.

"I’m not going to stand still. I’m going to keep trying to do my job, bringing in quality players and we’ll keep trying to move forward. That’s all we can do.

"I’ll be honest, this season hasn’t gone as well as it should have done. We’ve under-achieved, there’s no getting away from that."

Hythe, who drew 1-1 with Guernsey on Saturday, haven't won back-to-back league games since the start of November.

"I’m not stupid," Denly said. "I got the job on the back of Clive Cook going so there is pressure there.

"If I’m not doing my job and we’re not winning games, there are going to be questions asked.

"But I’ve got a good relationship with the chairman and the committee and I think they’re going to give me time given the conversations we’re having and the players I’m signing.

"We had to pay a small fee (to Herne Bay) for Tom Carlton so the chairman’s still backing me - but anything can happen in football. I’m not naive enough to think otherwise.

"I’ll keep doing all I can but it doesn’t happen overnight. I know we did really well last year when I came in but there’s a lot of new players I brought into the team and we haven’t really mixed or gelled as well as I’d have liked.

"I hope I get given time. I’m told that I will but you never know in football."

Carlton and Margate loanee Sid Sollis both went straight into the starting line-up against Guernsey.

Denly said: "Sid was outstanding, the best player on the pitch and scored a great goal to top it off.

"Tom Carlton had a very good game as well and the bench was very strong with those players coming into the squad.

"By and large, it was a much better performance from everyone and the only disappointing thing was not to come away with three points, which we needed."