Sacked Margate manager Reece Prestedge confident side he has assembled can turn form around despite Isthmian Premier struggles

Sacked Margate boss Reece Prestedge is confident the team he’s built will turn their poor form around.

A run of seven games without a win has left Margate just above the Isthmian Premier relegation zone, with last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Enfield Town the final act for Prestedge who was relieved of his duties on Sunday lunchtime.

But in their seven-match winless run, Gate only played at Hartsdown Park twice - drawing 1-1 with Haringey and losing 2-1 to play-off occupants Billericay.

Margate, scheduled to visit Whitehawk in the Velocity Cup tonight, have back-to-back home Saturday league matches against mid-table Carshalton this weekend and fellow strugglers Kingstonian.

“I don’t doubt the team at all,” said Prestedge, who’s now looking forward to spending some more time with his young family.

“Obviously, not every game is perfect and goes the way you want it to go, but I have no doubt that they will turn it around.

“I would just have liked our next two home games after five games out of six away from home to prove that we can turn it around.

“I did it last year and kept us up. I couldn’t see why we couldn’t do it again - and maybe even push higher because it’s very tight.

“We’re three points from mid-table and if you look at the next two games - with no disrespect to those teams - they’ve both been on bad runs, as well, and I think home advantage would have played a part.”

Gate came close to ending their winless streak at Bognor Regis through striker Steve Cawley’s brace last Tuesday, only for the hosts to get a late leveller.

“The results haven’t been what we wanted,” admitted 37-year-old Prestedge. “But in three of those games, there’s been last-minute goals.

“We’re only three points off the expectation level. The