Saltdean United's new manager Mick Ford has vowed to avoid relegation.

The Tigers are currently bottom of Rich City Division One, without a win from their first 11 games in the league.

But Ford, who was appointed this week, is adamant he can stop the rot.

Ford is a former manager of Ryman League side Croydon who has arrived at Hill Park from Chipstead, having also had a spell in charge at Croydon Athletic.

He will work closely with director of football Paul Hubbard, who has been in caretaker charge since the demotion of Steve Bean to reserve team boss last month.

With a new club chairman expected to arrive with Ford, bringing an injection of funds to the club, the first task will be to strengthen the team.

Ford was hoping to sign a number of players ahead of today's visit of Pagham, although he will not discard the club's crop of promising youngsters.

Ford said: "We are looking to recruit some players and I have already spoken to a few, "We are hoping, once we have got ourselves stabilised, to get some of the local boys back involved.

"The main thing is to stabilise the ship initially and get things steadied down. There are some good kids there but to jump from playing youth level to County League is a big step with so many in the side."

As for Saltdean's prospects for the rest of the season, Ford said: "Let's just say as far as I am concerned Saltdean will be in this division next season."

Hassocks manager Dave John has branded the County League's new fines system as cowardly.

The Robins have fallen foul of the rules relating to the technical area around dugouts and have been hit with a £20 fine.

John said: "I don't mind being done for breaking rules but I think this is a cowardly way of doing it."

He added: "We have been fined for having too many people in the dugout during the game at Whitehawk.

"What can you say? The fine came through six games after we had played that match and you are left thinking, 'Who was in the dugout that day? Did we have too many people in there?'

"What upsets me is that referees do not feel they can come over and say: 'Sorry, but you have too many people in there, you are going to be fined £20.

"It means that your opinion of that referee goes down. What is the county trying to do, make more fuss between us and the referees?

" You may be able to contest the fine but you have to be able to prove it, and who can remember what happened six games ago in the dugout?"

Arundel were hit by two fines out of the blue earlier in the season for infringements of the same rule which angered their boss Mick Rowland.

John has other problems with Luke Flomo out for three weeks with a knee injury. However, Joe Fernley, who was injured earlier in the season, is on his way back along with another casualty Richard Thompson.

John has also signed young defender Stuart Ritchie from Hurstpierpoint.