SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CALNE Town Paul Rankin has said he is prepared to relinquish the managerial reins at Bremhill View if the dismal fortunes of his side continue.

Rankin's men remain second-from-bottom of the Screwfix Direct League First Division following their hammering at the hands of high-flying Exmouth Town on Saturday 17 November.

Calne are the only side in the entire league without an away point this term and have leaked 25 goals in six games on their travels.

The Exmouth defeat follows hot on the heels of the club's 7-0 drubbing at Hallen and Rankin knows he is being judged on results.

He said: "Sooner or later decisions have got to be made. The committee are totally behind me and I've had the dreaded vote of confidence from the chairman.

"But I'm not in it for my own ego, I'm in it for the good of Calne Town Football Club. I know what I have to do if results don't improve, but I'm confident we will turn things around."

Calne were again missing several members of their first team squad for the daunting trip to the King George V Ground, and their worries were compounded when Andy Towers, Julian Alexander and Martin Wheeler were all forced off at half-time.

Things got worse when substitute Mark Jefferies collected an injury with 20 minutes to go, leaving Calne to play the final ten minutes with only ten men.

Double strikes from Richard Spiller, Doug Jane and Paul Pocock moved the home side into a First Division promotion berth and they now trail leaders Bath City Reserves on goal difference.

Rankin felt his side's injury woes had extinguished any hopes Calne had of taking something from the clash.

He said: "Exmouth are at the top and we wouldn't have expected to go there and win, but I would have liked us to have played better than we did.

"I think sides like Hallen and Exmouth have shown they are good sides, but we've been forced to put weakened sides out against them.

"The positive thing to come out of the game was the performance of the youngsters. If it hadn't been for Brendan Dicks' performance in goal we would have let in 12."

Calne travel to Screwfix Direct League newcomers Willand Rovers on Saturday.

Said Rankin: "The fact is we've got to start picking up points against the mid-table sides if we are to realise our true position, which I believe is in mid-table.

"We'll have to change the side again for the game on Saturday at Willand. It would just be nice to put out the same side two games on the trot."