Chichester City bosses insist: There's no doom or gloom here

Miles Rutherford, Danny Potter and Graeme Gee on the touchline at Whyteleafe / Picture: Neil Holmes

Instead, all at Oaklands Park are remaining confident that Isthmian south east results will improve once some of their regulars are back.

And in the meantime the club who made national FA Cup headlines last season can focus on the chance of another run in the competition.

City have already come through two Cup rounds, coming from behind to overcome Basingstoke and Cribbs.

They host Hellenic League side Risborough in Saturday’s second qualifying round, but are determined not to get ahead of themselves by starting to dream of another surge to the first round proper.

City assistant boss Graeme Gee admitted the league start, which has brought a home 3-1 loss to Ramsgate and Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Whyteleafe, had not been ideal.

He said: “We’re not quite firing on all cylinders but injuries, suspensions and unavailability through work and holidays has hit us hard.

“We’ve been without some mainstays of our success of recent years – people like Ryan Davidson, Kaleem Haitham and Gicu Iordache.

“We’ve had a couple – Rob Hutchings and Josh Clack – suspended already and Ryan Penny, who we signed recently, has now moved on, while others have been away for certain games because of other commitments.

“A club at any level would struggle without that many, so we’re not going to turn against the lads.

“They’re a fantastic bunch who have done ever so well for us over a few years and we’re confident league results will improve once we get some bodies back and can have a more settled side. That’s no disrespect to those who have been playing as they’ve been giving their all.”

Gee and manager Miles Rutherford made a four-hour round trip to Buckinghamshire in midweek to watch Cup opponents Risborough – and Gee said they’d make it tough for City, who then visit early leaders VCD in the league next Tuesday.

“Risborough are a couple of steps below us in the pyramid but they’re a very good side and will feel they have a chance. A Cup run would be great but if you get ahead of yourselves, you get caught out.

“We’ll give them plenty of respect.”