Woodbridge Town boss Mark Scopes has admitted that the Woodpeckers must take ‘five or six steps back’ to move forward this season.

The Woodpeckers currently sit rock bottom in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division with just two points out of a possible 48 to their name.

It has been a frustrating time for Woodbridge chief Scopes but, after a recent meeting with his chairman and board members, he insists his side are on the right path.

Woodbridge are without a win all season and were thumped and embarrassed 9-1 by Stanway Rovers earlier this month.

“The Stanway result and performance was a big low point,” admitted Scopes.

“I had a chat with the chairman after that and we’ve agreed that we have to take five or six steps back to move forwards.

“The club is trying to rebuild financially and on the field but it’s difficult.”

Blighted by injuries, suspensions and unavailabilities, Scopes described events this season as a ‘revolving door’.

“The same things keep on happening to us,” said the Woodpeckers boss.

“I bring players in, they get injured and are unavailable. I bring some more in and they do the same, it’s all just one big revolving door.

“We haven’t had a consistent team of players and I think that’s half of our problem this season.”

Scopes’ men are up against it this weekend with the visit of top-of-the-table Hadleigh United.

The two teams have had contrasting levels of success this season with the Brettsiders storming the league and also in the Third Round Proper of the FA Vase.

“Hadleigh are flying,” admitted Scopes.

“They’ve spent a lot of money and good luck to them.

“It’s a massively hard game for us but we don’t fear anyone we play against and we’ll hopefully set-up and do the right things I’m trying to install in the team.

“I’m still trying to convince some players in playing a certain way, but we need to show more belief in what we do.”

It is no secret that Scopes likes his sides to get the ball down and play a passing game and the Woodbridge chief is determined to stick to these tactics.

Scopes said: “At a young age, kids are brought up playing passing football then when you get to a certain level, winning is seen as the main objective and the passing goes completely out of the window.

“The emphasis is then very much ‘clear your lines’ among many teams and that’s a shame because that’s where I think football is going wrong.

“It starts at grassroots level then progresses right through to the national team.

“You saw it in the last two England friendlies. They were outplayed and then beaten by Chile and a German B or C team.

“It’s an issue that needs to be addressed and players and coaches need to have the belief to build it.”

Forty-one points and 13 wins separate the two teams Saturday and it really is a ‘David versus Goliath’ clash, should the fixture go ahead of course. Woodbridge have seen their last two proposed home fixtures at Notcutts Park called off due to a waterlogged pitch and with more rain imminent over the weekend, Scopes is unsure whether the pitch will be playable.

“The problem is the water has nowhere to go, it just holds up,” said Scopes. “Hopefully it’ll be on but we’ll see.”