FELIXSTOWE and Walton United travel to Ridgeons League, Premier Division leaders Lowestoft Town tomorrow - with manager Steve Potts saying they face a daunting task.

Elvin King

FELIXSTOWE and Walton United travel to Ridgeons League, Premier Division leaders Lowestoft Town tomorrow - with manager Steve Potts saying they face a daunting task.

It has not been the start to the season Potts envisaged after a promising end to 2007/08, and today he promised a shake-up at Dellwood Avenue.

Wednesday's 4-1 Premier Division defeat at Walsham-le-Willows has done nothing to give Potts too much hope of an improvement being shown at Crown Meadow.

“It is a daunting task that we face,” said Potts. “And it is proving very frustrating for me as I have never experienced such a poor run in my managerial career.”

Felixstowe have lost their last five league matches - scoring just two goals in the process.

“We are leaking goals at one end and failing to create chances at the other,” added Potts. “There are some good players at the club, but there will be a shake-up with new faces coming in and some players going out.

“There is an awful lot of time left this season to right what is currently wrong. It is more a case of tweaking rather than a major overhaul.

“I have retained my enthusiasm and am looking forward to the challenge.

“But after expecting good things this campaign it has turned into one where we will be consolidating and building for the future. It is worrying with home attendance figures down causing us to cut our cloth accordingly.”

Potts brought in Grundisburgh star David Grimwood during the summer, but otherwise kept faith with last season's squad.

“A number have left to seek first team football elsewhere and I have been unable to find my best combination with injuries not helping.”

Mark Manning, who worked successfully with Potts at Grundisburgh, came and went quickly as first team coach and Neil Smye, who coaches with Colchester United at youth level, is now working as Felixstowe coach.

“It was Mark's decision to leave,” added Potts. “I would have been happy for him to carry on, but he decided he wanted to spend time doing other things.”

Star striker Danny Phillips is away and misses tomorrow's game along with the suspended Neil Calver. Defender Gerard Nash, who joined from Woodbridge, is a big injury doubt.

“Danny is under contract with us and is going nowhere,” said Potts, who says that he will not put Felixstowe into any financial danger by trying to compete with the increasing number of big spenders in the Ridgeons set up.

Both Whitton United and Woodbridge Town are at home with the former entertaining Ely City and the latter playing host to Norwich United, who will include ex-Woodbridge player Ben Garnham in their squad.

Keith Hetherington, ex-Clacton, Ipswich Wanderers and Felixstowe, is also now on Norwich's books.