WITHAM Town's management team insist that their players need to "grow up" and stop "being naive" to get the club out of their current slump in form.

A 3-1 defeat by Canvey Island last weekend has left Witham without a win in eight games in all competitions and they will be looking for better fortunes when they head to Potters Bar Town in Bostik League division north on Saturday.

Their run has left Witham fourth from bottom in the table with just nine points to their name and manager Adam Flint, assistant boss James Robinson and coach Curtis Whyte have called on their players to step up and be stronger in the face of opposing sides.

Robinson said: "We need leaders and we need people to grow up and take responsibility.

"We showed Canvey too much respect - we are being too nice to play against.

"I'll tell you that a horrible, strong centre-half would not have allowed Canvey to play the way they did against us.

"Saying the players are young would be making an excuse for them.

"We can't make excuses for them, they are just being naive.

"No-one has battered us, but it's just that there are big moments in games where people haven't stepped up.

"To be fair, they did against Bury where we were two-nil down and we were outstanding in the second half, but we need to be better than we were against Canvey."

Flint added: "You see the players in the warm up and they're ready and at it and then the game starts and they're waiting to concede.

"We need to put our heads together and get them right, make sure it's us who are on the front foot.

"We have had some tough games recently and we have been in them all.

"It's not like we have been thumped, but we do have to start winning.

"We need some results.

"It's definitely a mental thing with them at the moment.

"We need to make them a team and the boys that are here need to get us out of the position we're in."

Following the trip to Potters Bar on Saturday, the tests keep coming for Witham and they will return home on Tuesday to host another top-ten side as Hertford Town visit the Village Glass Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Flint said he isn't being inactive in looking for a turnaround in fortunes and, following the departures of striker Tim Monsheju to Grays Athletic and defender Damien Green to Ware in the last two weeks, he is looking to bring in some new players.

However, the Town boss admits it is not always an easy task.

He said: "We have to try to make changes and we are trying but it's a case of actually getting the players.

"I don't want it to be a financial thing, but we can't compete with the likes of Canvey for players.

"They probably have three to four times what we do each week.

"Even teams from lower levels are paying beyond what we have available.

"There are boys who aren't even playing in some teams and they're still being paid.

"You try to get them and you just can't.

"That's damaging it for clubs like us.

"You just can't compete as there are boys who could step up and they just aren't.

"We've been looking up front at new players, but I think you have to look all the way down the spine of the team.

"I always remember (former Witham boss) Danny Greaves telling me 'big and strong down the spine and quick on the outside' but we're not at the moment.

"We are quick on the outside but we don't seem to have that strength down the spine."

Whyte added: "There are definitely characters in the group who can step up, but they are showing that very few and far between.

"But while there are some who want to do that, others are looking in the other direction and that's very difficult to take.

"We are looking at different players, but you have to have the right characters come in.

"People who will help the team go forward."