Boss Kevin Watson's admiration for his Herne Bay players despite Isthmian Premier relegation looming

Herne Bay look set to suffer Isthmian Premier relegation with the club’s immediate future uncertain. Kevin Watson’s side are six points behind Kingstonian - the only team outside the relegation zone they can now catch - with two games left after they claimed a point during the Easter period.

Watson has revealed Bay were placed under a transfer embargo due to an unpaid league bill this season while they have had issues paying player wages. “I appreciate that you would all like further detail and answers but current club officials are possibly being conscious of false accusation without fact,” Bay’s boss wrote on social media. “However, I’m happy to elaborate a little further on the first-team. “I don’t feel I’m out of line in disclosing that we had a transfer embargo placed upon us due to an unpaid bill to the league.

When I’m sure that the fanbase were questioning why we didn’t bolster the squad at a crucial time, we actually couldn’t! “[It’s] not an excuse but I think it’s important for the fans to understand some of the challenges. "Some of the players had approaches from other clubs before the transfer deadline and chose not to leave, despite them having not been paid for up to six weeks. "This is why I have true admiration for this group. “Non-league players, sometimes, get bad press and accusations of being mercenaries - but this group of players are different.” Bay came from 3-1 behind to draw 3-3 at Lewes on Good Friday, as Marcel Barrington, Troy Williams and Mason Saunders-Henry scored.

They were 3-0 down at Winch’s Field, three days later, and ended up being beaten 5-3 by play-off chasing Cray Wanderers despite goals by Saunders-Henry and Daniel Ogunleye, as well as an own goal.