There cannot have been too many more disappointed people than Darren Budd when the weather wiped out the majority of Saturday’s football matches.

The former Albion and Bognor midfielder has been a frustrated spectator from the bench for much of the time during Eastbourne Borough’s promising debut season in Blue Square premier.

He was looking forward to finally getting 90 minutes of first team football under his belt after joining Horsham on a month’s loan only for their Ryman premier division clash at Staines to be washed out.

Budd has not started a league or FA Cup game for Borough this season and his total time on the pitch amounts to just 87 minutes from his seven substitute appearances.

But despite the fact Matt Smart, Paul Armstrong, Simon Wormull and Danny Brown are currently ahead of him in the pecking order for the two central midfield roles, Budd insists he still has a future at Priory Lane.

He said: “It has been a frustrating season but I have tried to be as patient as I can. Like everyone else at Eastbourne I was really excited about this season but it’s not worked out quite how I would have liked.

“This season the manager has gone with Paul (Armstrong) and Matt (Smart) and that is his choice. They are both great players and as long as they are doing their jobs I can’t really argue.

“I’m not one of those people who are going to grumble about it, I’m just going to get my head down and work even harder.

“There is no ill feeling. The manager picks the 11 and I am not in it at the moment so it’s my job to get my head down and convince him I should be.

“I certainly don’t think my future is finished at Eastbourne. I will never give up without a fight because I know I am good enough to play at that level.

“You never know what might happen in the next few months. Borough could pick up a few injuries and I might get called back so I just need to make sure I am ready if that happens.”

Budd joined Borough 14 months ago after three years at Bognor and played a key role in the club’s promotion to Blue Square premier.

He was in the starting 11 for the play-off final victory against Hampton and Richmond but was given an indication of what was to come when he was not even named in the squad for the opening three matches of this season.

It looked like he might finally get a chance when Armstrong was sidelined with an ankle injury last month, only for Brown to be brought in on loan from Cambridge United.

He added: “When Danny came in it did dent my confidence a bit but I realised the manager was only doing what he thought was best for the club.

“Danny is a totally different sort of player to me and that is what the gaffer felt he needed. If he brought in a player who was similar to me then I would have to ask questions.

“The most important thing for me now is to try to start enjoying my football again. When you are not playing except for the odd reserve game here and there it does make it hard to motivate yourself.

“What I’ve got to do now is get some games under my belt at Horsham so I am ready to challenge for my place back at Eastbourne if the chance comes along.

“That is why I was so upset when John Maggs phoned me on Saturday morning to say the game was off because I was really looking forward to playing.”