Eastbourne Borough manager Danny Bloor says Billericay are like them as they go through a transitional period.

The Sports host Billericay, who are in 19th place in the National League South having finished eighth last season.

There has been plenty going on at the Essex club this season with owner and manager Glenn Tamplin stepping down, before moving on to pursue a new adventure with Romford, who are two divisions below Billericay.

Since Tamplin’s departure ex-Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara has become the player manager, with mixed results.

Billericay head into the game having failed to win any of their last five games, whereas Borough are unbeaten in their last five games at Priory Lane.

Bloor who went to watch Billericay in the week admitted that like Borough they are going through a transitional period.

He said: “I went up to watch them against Oxford on Tuesday night and like us they are going through a bit of a transitional period with Mr Tamplin having left the club.

“Jamie has still got a lot of quality players in that squad.

“I think the reason they are where there are is because of the amount of games they have had called off due to the problems they are having with their home pitch.

“We are looking to bounce back after the defeat to Dartford, which came courtesy of a late penalty and the referee’s coaches said to me it shouldn’t have been a penalty.”

Despite Billericay being below them in the table they still have ex-Albion players Jake Robinson and Doug Loft plus O’Hara, but Bloor insists Borough have some quality players themselves.

He said: “I think they have a lot of quality in that squad, but I do not expect Jamie to play as much of a part.

“However, we have plenty of quality in our squad with the likes of Greg Luer, Dean Cox and Ian Gayle, who is in my opinion one of the best centre-backs in the league.”

Borough head into the game off the back of reaching the Sussex Senior Cup final after beating underdogs Peacehaven 5-4 on penalties in the semi-final on Wednesday night after they had been taken to spots kicks by the Southern Combination Premier League side.

However, Bloor was full of credit for Peacehaven, with them going close to causing an upset in the 90th minute when Jake Brocklebank missed from the spot.

He said: “We are delighted to reach the final, but all credit to Peacehaven, they were outstanding.

“They have plenty of players who are more than capable of playing at a much higher level and I will be looking into to some of them myself.

“I wish Mark Shutt and his side all the best for the rest of the season and hope they win something, as they thoroughly deserve it.

“The final is something we can put to the back of our mind although it is something to look forward, it won’t be as exciting if we haven’t maintained our National League South status.”

Bloor admitted Charlie Walker and Franklin Domi are 50/50 to play tomorrow.

Haven manager Shutt had mixed emotions after the defeat with them having been in the game for so long.

He said:”I have got so much love for the boys and I knew that they would turn up.

“However, we shouldn’t have really been that close to getting to the final, we were two penalty kicks away from it.

“So at the minute it is gutting to go so close to winning, but at the same time I was so proud of the boys and the performance they had put in.”

Shutt also spoke about how complementary Bloor was of Haven.

He said: “He was very nice and the boys matched Borough every step of the way.

“Whether they could perform at those levels week in week out is another question.”