Sheppey United have lost ground in their play-off chase following back-to-back defeats but the manager hopes fans can see the bigger picture.

Ernie Batten’s men are in their second season playing Isthmian South East football, following their Southern Counties East Premier Division title success, and it’s another year where they’re challenging in the higher echelons.

Batten pointed to a discussion with a player last week who came looking for a big-money move and he insists the club isn’t going to break the bank for anyone.

He said: “I am looking to strengthen but we are not going to over extend ourselves, we will build like we have in previous seasons and do as well as we can and hopefully we will be in and around the play-offs.

“This is only our second season (at the level) and maybe supporters and people from the outside think you have the right to go on through these leagues. But you have to be ready as a club, we have got no individual benefactor in terms of putting finances in.

“We want to be self sufficient and we want to be a proper football club in terms of sustainability. We will carry on that vein and it has served us well in the past.

“I understand supporters wanting success all the time but look at where we started 10 years ago in the Kent County League, taking over from Sheerness East, from there to the Invicta League and then the SCEFL and from there to the Isthmian South East, winning six trophies and three promotions.

“I don’t think the supporters can say they have been starved of success.

“Each one of these jumps requires the club to grow, we need to grow commercially and as a club in terms of introducing more youth teams, more interest in the club and it is still relatively young, relatively untapped on Sheppey.

“Sheppey is developing as an area, lots of houses being built and many people still haven’t been to the ground. We are looking to develop that side of it and with that will come the strength and the financial clout to move up another league or two but it will take time.

“I look at other long-established clubs still fighting to get out of this league after many years of trying. Where we are after 10 years I think is fantastic, we are sixth in this division and still pushing.

“I understand the fans, understand they want continued success, but I am sure a lot of the fans do understand. You do need patience. It comes at a cost. We do what can we do and we’re doing the maximum we can.

“You look at our ground, we are quite proud of it, a small compact non-league ground, really modern and it suits the purpose really well. As times goes on we need to develop the club and that will be the springboard for more success.”

Isthmian League South East table

The Ites will hope to keep their play-off chase going this season and they have the chance to put recent defeats behind them at home to mid-table Littlehampton Town this Saturday.

Batten said: “We have to get a win and we have put ourselves under a bit of pressure now because of losing at home to Chichester (last weekend).

“We had been going alright, we hadn’t lost in 10 until the Chichester game and then of course you get these two in a row.

“Now we have to get these points on Saturday in what will be a tough game. They beat Ashford on Saturday and they have had decent results recently, we have to be on our game and get the three points.”

Batten’s search for new recruits is focused on the defence, having suffered with several absentees at the back.

Mamadou Diallo is back in light training following his broken leg in November but some way off returning to action, Briggs Ojemen is suffering with a hamstring injury and Renford Tenyue has an ankle problem.

It’s meant Connor Wilkins dropping back into defence and Joe Ganiwa - a recent addition - playing right-back. Both have impressed.

Batten said: “Joe has come from K Sports, a local lad and he had a very good game on Saturday. He plays on the wing generally but he was solid at right-back, he was faultless up against some very good players. I hope it’s not just a one-off!

“Connor Wilkins is playing at centre-half again. He has been outstanding, such a utility player, he can play anywhere.”

Football Isle of Sheppey Sport Non League Ryman League Luke Cawdell