Nick Davis believes Sittingbourne’s 6-1 defeat by Chipstead last November may have saved his job.

Brickies travel to Surrey for the return game against the Ryman League Division 1 South strugglers on Saturday.

Rather than owing Chipstead one for their Woodstock Park hammering, the result did them a favour.

It was the ninth defeat in a 13-game losing streak and one that triggered changes.

Manager Davis said: “It was one of the low points of the season but it’s turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“All the time you’re losing by the odd goal you keep the same team because you think you’re not far away but that Chipstead game was a wake-up call.

“Four or five players didn’t play for the club again and a couple left that day.

“We started to bring new players in and that was the beginning of the turnaround.

“It was time for change, otherwise the management would have been gone.

“We’ve done well to pull away from the relegation zone the way we have.

“We’ve been on a fantastic run, averaging two points a game and have shown great resolve to turn it around.

“When you have bad times it’s all about how you learn and recover and we’ve done that fantastically. We’re a different side now.”