DOWN but certainly not out.

That’s the defiant stance of FC Clacton manager David Coyle, following his side’s morale-sapping 3-2 defeat at Wivenhoe Town.

It was their sixth straight loss and leaves them five points from safety, in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Mildenhall.

However, while deflated by the nature of his side’s midweek setback – which followed a hotly-contested last-gasp penalty – Coyle insists his side are edging closer to a precious victory.

“It’s hard going at the moment – for me, the players and the supporters,” he said.

“But we’re not after sympathy.

“We’ll stick together and keep working for each other, because there’s a genuine belief in the camp that a victory is coming.

“We’re still confident.

“We know we’re a good team and confidence has taken a bit of a beating, because of the run we’ve been on.

“But we’re still in there fighting.”