New Margate manager Steve Watt says he wouldn't have taken the job at Hartsdown if he didn't think he could keep them in Vanarama National League South.

The 31-year-old left his role as Hastings United assistant manager to become Blues boss after Nikki Bull's shock resignation on Thursday night.

Watt was first contacted by Gate chairman Alistair Bayliss on Friday morning, appointed in the afternoon and capped what he described as a 'whirlwind' 24 hours by losing his first game 2-0 at home to fellow strugglers Whitehawk on Saturday.

The defeat was Margate's 17th in a row, and left them nine points adrift of Gosport, two places above, but defiant boss Watt explained: "We've got 12 games to try and survive. It is what it is and I still believe it's possible to do.

"If I didn't I wouldn't have taken the job. I won't accept that it's a lost cause until we're confirmed to be going down.

"I won't say it, I won't accept it either. I'll keep fighting, I'll keep trying to improve the team, the squad.

"Opportunities like this you have to take when they come and I'm just grateful I've got this chance. I will do everything in my power to keep this club in the league.

"I've always been that type of player. I've won games when it's been the 93rd minute, and you were 1-0 down after 88.

"That's how I'm built and until the club is confirmed as down I will keep trying to improve, to push and get the best out of everyone here."

Watt, whose deal is initially until the end of the season, admitted he did not even have time to meet the players ahead of the Whitehawk game but says he has an open mind about the squad he has inherited.

He added: "I said to the boys before the game they all start with a clean slate.

"I'll judge everyone on what I see on the pitch. I'll also judge them at training, I make my mind up quick on players because I know what I like as a manager, I know the way I want to play.

"If I think we need to make a decision in an area, if it means releasing players to get others in I will do that."

Watt said he sensed a lack of confidence about Margate's play going forward - not surprising given that they have not scored a goal for more than 11 hours - but he says he doesn't think wholesale changes are necessary straightaway.

He added: "I thought up until the first goal we competed well, we were in the game but then you have a three or four-minute spell where there is a lack of concentration and bad decisions, and at this level of football you lose games.

"I think that's maybe been a pattern of what's been happening at the club during the run they've been on. We were a threat at times, we got the ball into good areas but maybe we didn't have the right end product.

"That is something we definitely need to address and we will do, hopefully before Tuesday (when they host fifth-placed Chelmsford City)."