Whitstable striker Stuart King admits times are tough at the Belmont but says Town’s players need to show fans they will fight to the end.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Molesey – Town’s 28th in 34 Ryman League, Division 1 South games – left them bottom by nine points and 16 from safety with 12 games to play.

Last week chairman Gary Johnson resigned though caretaker chairman Joe Brownett is set to lead a meeting at the Belmont on Thursday which promises fans ‘exciting news’ about the future.

King admitted it was a ‘very difficult time’ but said: “The fans are as loyal as anything. They are not stupid, they can see the situation and how things happening at the top can affect things on the field.

“They are with us. We need to roll our sleeves up and put in a shift. We have to face facts, we are going to lose again this season but it’s about the style and manner in which you lose games.

“If you lose 3-2 but you walk off knowing you have given everything, then people have to accept that – you don’t like to lose but in a way, it’s good enough. What people don’t want to see is teams roll over and die.

“We have got to stick together, give it everything we have got for the rest of the season and after that we just have to wait and see what the future holds.”

King admitted the task of avoiding the drop feels like ‘mission impossible’ but said: “We want to get off the bottom.

“We have still got to play Peacehaven, so if we can put a few points together before then and maybe find a way to win a few more, it might still not be enough but it’s something.”