United "100 per cent" behind Lovell

Hastings crashed to their fourth defeat in a row at home to Chatham Town on Tuesday night to increase concern amongst supporters at the Pilot Field.

But managing director Terry Akehurst is adamant that the club appointed the right man as manager in the summer. "We're 100 per cent behind Steve. We just know it's the right thing to do and we have just got to stick with it," he said. "It's going to be tough but the fans are going to have to be patient, they've got no choice.

"We're excited about what's happening because we feel this will develop and we'll have a team for the future," he went on. "I hope the supporters understand what we are trying to do. Steve will be the first to tell you that managers are judged on results outside the club but within the club we always knew this initial period would be tough and quite frankly if we do a reverse of last year - start off near the bottom and end up near the top we won't be too worried about it."

Former Welsh international Lovell has had to virtually start from scratch after all but three of last season's first team squad departed during the summer. With little money to play with he has had to rely on untried reserve team players and a crop of youngsters from his neck of the woods in north Kent.

Their inexperience at this level of football has been exposed at times and a return of four points out of a possible 21 has had one or two fans questioning Lovell's tactical acumen.

He responded: "As a manager you are judged on results but it took me nine games at Sittingbourne before I won my first game and then we went on to win the title so I have been through this before and know how to handle it. The pressure comes from myself trying to get things right.

"I want to be successful wherever I've gone and I have been pretty successful at the clubs I've gone to and I will get it right here whether it be in the next three or four weeks, whether it be in the next three or four months or whether it be in the next three or four years."

Hastings' early exit from the FA Cup means they are again without a match this weekend.