Marine manager Neil Young has admitted that they are pushing for additions as they prepare for their trip to South Shields.
The Mariners’ winning run came to an end against Warrington Rylands as Kelly D’Mai inspired Jody Banim’s side to a 3-1 win.
As a result of the defeat, Marine slipped outside the playoffs for the first time in six matches.
The result left Young exasperated, speaking to Off The Park he revealed: “I thought we were poor although I thought the game changed on their goal on half-time, it was too open.
“First-half we probably created the better chances but up front they were very lively with Kelly [N’Mai] who done very well for them.
“Disappointed with the second-half performances, it wasn’t great, they scored a great goal but we’ve got to deal with the first header and then we never really took the game by the scruff of the neck.
“We had opportunities to get the game back to 3-2 but we let the game fizzle out which I was furious with in terms of the application. Not a good result at home, good crowd on, it’s just put me closer to where I know we want to be but where I need us to be in terms of recruitment is becoming very difficult.
“I can shout and scream, I done that against Warrington Town at half-time so it was pointless going in there and shouting and screaming at them again, that’s not going to get you anywhere,” he continued. “I know exactly where we are at but we’ve also got to take into consideration we’ve probably overachieved in the first-half of the season in terms of where people’s expectations were.
“Like in every walk of life expectations change and then we’re currently not living up to them expectations.”
Their recent run has saw them lose in the FA Trophy to Marske United before holding Warrington Town to a goalless draw on Boxing Day.
Marine have been dealt injury problems throughout the campaign with Andy Hollins, Anthony Miley among long-term absentees. During the season, Jack Dunn and Sean Ferguson have joined the list of casualties.
Andy Wardle is currently serving a suspension following his red card in their Trophy exit. Young has detailed their efforts in bringing in new faces in order to aid the squad.
He said: “The boys have done very well in the first part of the season but now I’m well aware, been aware for a while, they need help in terms of recruitment.
“We lost some key players to long term injuries, it’s not ideal, we are trying, there will be players through the building over the next 10 days, how many? Who? Depends on what we can do with other clubs.
“Speaking to a number of clubs about a number of players but all the time it’s not as easy to bring better players in, we’ve got a good squad, we need to bring in quality, experience in some areas, a different type particularly up front and that’s not easy to do because one or two of them will involve transfer fees. We’re working very hard behind the scenes, we’ll see what pans out over the next 10 days.”
Despite hitting brick walls so far in their efforts, the Mariners boss says there are funds available. He added: “We’ve made offers for players, it’s not easy to do at the moment, it’s money we’ve brought into the football club.
“We sold Owen Watkinson, Neil Kengni and Kielen Adams so there is money there, the club are allowing that to be used.
“We are very active, I’ll say, in trying to recruit but it’s easier said than done, you speak to most managers I’m sure you know Liam [Watson] down to our league and the lads below us, they’ll tell you how difficult recruitment is.”
This weekend Marine face a trip to league leaders South Shields as they look to return to winning ways and reaffirm their playoff hopes.
Kevin Phillips’ side have won four of their last six and sit top of the form guide – Marine sit third – despite the size of the task, Young is hoping for a reaction from his side.
“It’s the most difficult game you can play, South Shields away in the league, you’ve got nothing to lose,” he continued. “We’ve got to get a reaction from a performance perspective, Josh Wardle still suspended doesn’t help because that’s where we’re short defensively but you’ve got to play everyone twice and South Shields is our next game.
“We’ll prepare right and hopefully we’ll get a reaction in that game but it’s not a gimme, a free-hit and all this rubbish, we’ve got to go there and win the game. We’re sixth in the division and sixth for a reason, we’ve got to go there, put up a real fight and put them under pressure.
“Barrigan’s back, he’ll give us that intensity that we have missed, I think the biggest issue at the moment is defensively and we haven’t scored enough goals. I think we’re the lowest scorers in the top 10, there’s a stat out there but when Johnny Spittle or Josh Wardle don’t play, we concede a lot more goals than when they do play.
“It’s down to the other lads to step up but it’s down to me and my staff to fill them gaps, the two glaring gaps are there for the stats to see.
“We need firepower and need other defensive options, they’re the two key areas we need to recruit and I’ll go as far as saying we need to look for five or six players but that’s what we currently need.”
[Featured Image: Susan Nugent]
