Manager Danny Hollands and his assistant Ben Kneller will go hell for leather to maintain table-topping Bognor Regis Town’s push at the top of the Isthmian South Central division.

Apart from the Sussex Senior Cup, the Rocks now have only the league on which to focus after the Nye Camp pack was shuffled and they crashed out of the FA Trophy 6-5 on penalties at Hastings United after a 1-1 draw.

They went out of the FA Cup to East Grinstead in similar fashion, fielding a team missing key personnel.

And by resting key players in those games, the management team’s intention is clear — the target is promotion. And Kneller has hinted that perhaps cup runs have been sacrificed in order to pursue that aim.

The Rocks in action at Hastings in the FA Trophy - they drew 1-1 but lost 6-5 in the penalty shootout | Picture by Trevor Staff

placeholder image — The Rocks in action at Hastings in the FA Trophy - they drew 1-1 but lost 6-5 in the penalty shootout | Picture by Trevor Staff

League leaders Bognor get the chance to pick up points on Saturday when they host 14th-placed Harrow Borough before they go to second-placed Winchester City on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the Hastings defeat and the desire to stay in and around the promotion places, Kneller said: “It is tricky -- you want to come and get away unscathed and we have injury-wise but obviously we're not in the hat for the draw.

"We sat down with (club directors) Russ Chandler, Jack Pearce and Simon Cook in the week and they sort of understood where we want to be and what we want to do and to be in this competition was key and I do apologise to the fans because I'm sure they want a cup run.

“It’s a tricky place to come; you have got to come and adapt and maybe we haven’t adapted as well as maybe we could have done. We left a few out and unfortunately there is no cup draw for us."

Quizzed on whether the defeat meant the group could now concentrate on replicating their success to date in the league, Kneller remained philosophical, telling the club’s YouTube channel: “I think it's very important to have run in FA Cup and FA Trophy, both in monetary value and also for the fans.

“Fans want to have something to cheer about and I think we have done that for them in the league; so from our side of things, it's making sure that you know, we repay the faith that we get from behind the goal. And at home to Harrow we see a wall of green behind the goal.”

Meanwhile, Rocks have updated supporters on fixture changes – they said: “After postponing our home fixture vs Egham Town on the 26th September 2026 due to their cup exploits, we have brought forward our midweek fixture from Tuesday 20th October 2026 v AFC Porchester to Saturday 26th September 2026 3pm kick-off.

"Agreement has been reached for our home fixture in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup v Worthing Utd to take place on Tuesday 13th October 2026 with a 7:45pm kick off.”