Caretaker boss Darin Killpartrick has revealed he is in negotiations about taking over permanently at Bognor.

Killpartrick has sparked a remarkable revival at Nyewood Lane since taking over the reins in January following the departure of Mick Jenkins.

The Rocks had won just twice all season under Jenkins but have since picked up four wins from the last six games to sit third in the form table.

General manager Jack Pearce has been impressed with the impact Killpartrick has had on the club and is keen for him to continue as manager.

Killpartrick insisted he was only helping out when he agreed to become caretaker boss as Pearce was receiving treatment for cancer and despite his success has reservations about taking the job permanently.

He said: “Jack has offered me the job but I have got a lot of things going on in my own job.

“I won’t say I’m not enjoying it but it is extremely hard to balance it with a full-time job.

“We are in negotiations and once Jack is better he can make a decision about what he wants to do. I would never say never but all I care about at the moment is making sure Jack gets well.”

The Rocks had picked up just 13 points from 23 games when Jenkins quit and they looked doomed when the Conference deducted seven points for playing an ineligible player.

They are still second from bottom, 13 points adrift of safety, but there is now genuine hope that they could pull off a great escape.

Killpartrick added: “It is nice to look at the form table but we won’t get carried away. It is an outstanding achievement to be third but I want us to be top.

“If we want to survive that is what we have got to do because there is so much ground to make up.

“I haven’t waved a magic wand. All I’ve done is instil some confidence in the team, got us a bit more organised and changed the style of play but all those little things have added up to make a big difference.”

Sam Pearce returns from suspension for tomorrow’s trip to Bishop’s Stortford while Andy Pearson has extended his loan from Albion.