Sam Denly’s meeting with the Herne Bay committee next week could go a long way to deciding his future.

The Winch’s Field boss, still coming to terms with his side’s 7-0 Ryman League Division 1 South humiliation at Hastings on Tuesday night, will be in charge for the home game against Chipstead on Saturday, but says he needs answers.

The heavy defeat came three days after losing 3-2 at bottom-side Godalming, a result Denly described as “awful and woeful”.

The Bay boss said: “Things are not right and I need to know what is going on. I want to bring four or five players in, and to know whether the resources are available to make that possible, because it is very difficult at the moment.

“My hands are tied, because we can’t compete with other clubs.

“If we can’t then I think it’s going to be a long hard season, and I don’t want to see all the hard work of the last three years whittled away.”

Denly added: “We went to Hastings with an admittedly depleted side, but still set up with a team capable enough, so to be 2-0 down in four minutes was ridiculous.

“Jack Delo and Chris Elliott were both unavailable, Joe Nelder was ill with tonsillitis and Danny Williams was injured.”

One player excused censure was under-21 goalkeeper Toby Wood, drafted in to replace Delo.

The youngster was sent off in the 6-3 defeat at Faversham on August Bank Holiday, and had another difficult night at the Pilot Field.

Denly said: “There is no blame on Toby, he didn’t do a lot wrong, and will learn from the experiences and come out on the right side of them.

“He can hold his head up high.”

Denly concedes that skipper Liam Quinn’s absence due to personal and work commitments earlier this season was a big blow, while Sam Hasler’s seven-game ban following his double dismissal against Hemel Hempstead and Guernsey was another untimely setback.

Hasler completes his enforced lay-off this weekend, and will be available for the FA Trophy first qualifying round tie against Ryman Premier Harrow Borough on Saturday week.