It was a straight forward question and an equally simple answer.

Can Lewes avoid relegation from Ryman premier despite being eight points adrift at the bottom and 17 points behind the first side outside of the bottom four?

“One million per cent yes,” replied manager Darren Freeman.

Misplaced optimism? A manager talking up his side’s chances to keep spirits high and hopes alive? The simple truth that no one realistically would reply ‘no’ to the question?

Perhaps, but looking in Freeman’s eyes as he stood in front of me and answered the question, I don’t believe any of those are true.

Freeman honestly feels Lewes can get out of a predicament which many believe is impossible.

Lewes, who were playing in Conference premier as recently as 2009, are a stable club, with good facilities and a sound infrastructure.

But the possibility of dropping down to a level they have not played at since 2003 remains very real following a disastrous first half of the season.

Last summer Lewes cut their playing budget, having spent significantly on the installation of a 3G pitch at the back of the Dripping Pan for training and community use.

The accusation from some was they took their eye off the first team in the process – something the club themselves would deny.

But the truth is the season started badly, culminating in the departure of Steve Brown in September with just one win from the first 11 league games.

Freeman, having been overlooked when Brown was first appointed, joined from Peacehaven in October and immediately set about completely rebuilding a team which he believed was not good enough to compete at this level.

So far Freeman has brought in 14 new players but they have taken time to gel and just one league win in his tenure – matching Brown’s record – has left them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Freeman feels they are making progress and that they are a much better side than when he arrived.

And ask him that question about survival, he will reply with an honest answer.

Freeman told The Argus: “We have 19 games left. Since I have been here, there have been two or three games where we have been really poor. All the other games we have played really well and have been slightly unlucky.

“It has been difficult because you need that time to gel and I haven’t had that time to try things out and experiment. The only time I can experiment is in games and it is quite difficult to do that.

“We have had a lot of injuries as well. That is no excuse. I have brought players in who I feel are trustworthy and can get us out of the position we are in. I don’t think we are a million miles away, we have played some great football in some of the games.

“We have lacked a goalscorer. We thought Trevor McCreadie would be the answer and then he got injured. We got George Landais and he got injured. We also brought Richard Pacquette on loan but it didn’t quite work out for him for whatever reason.

“I love the club, it is great to be back involved, the facilities are fantastic. The people here are fantastic and it is just a matter of turning those good performances into wins.

“If you win four or five games on the bounce everything changes. It will be difficult but one million per cent yes, there isn’t a doubt in my mind we can stay up.”

Lewes still have to play the two teams immediately above them – VCD Athletic and Brentwood, in successive Saturdays in March.

They also face sixth from bottom Hendon away this month and have two games with Merstham, after Saturday’s home fixture was postponed late on following an inspection by the matchday referee.

Freeman added: “We have got to look at the bottom six or seven. We have got to have our own mini league and try to come top of that league.

“If we can do that hopefully we can be fine.

“For me Lewes is a Conference south club all day long. Over the past years for whatever reason it hasn’t quite happened but I am here now and hopefully I can put that right.”