IT’S official.

FC Clacton have avoided relegation and are staying in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division – at Wivenhoe Town’s expense.

However, far from taking their foot off the gas, boss David Coyle has challenged his players to finish with a flourish at Walsham-le-Willows on Saturday.

A victory would see them leapfrog their hosts and, depending on results elsewhere, the Seasiders could finish as high as 14th, jumping above both Haverhill Rovers and Thetford.

“I want to finish the season well,” said Coyle, whose side made themselves safe by beating Kirkley and Pakefield 1-0 on Saturday, while seeing rivals Wivenhoe held to a 1-1 draw at Thetford.

“We’ve won five and drawn one of our last seven games, which is incredible.

“To finish with six wins out of eight would be the kind of form that will have people thinking we’re going to be a top-half side next season.

“We’ve got to play to win and it’s a 38-game season – not 37.

“There might be a couple of changes, to keep it fresh, but we’re definitely going there to get another three points.

“We want to finish as high as we can and, if we win, we’ll go above Walsham and there’s a chance we could also go above Thetford and Haverhill.”