DORCHESTER Town manager Craig Laird has declared that his side are now firmly embroiled in a relegation battle.

The Magpies find themselves sitting 19th and just four points clear of the relegation zone after their 5-0 thumping to Leamington, and with other results not going their way, Laird is crystal clear on the situation the squad find themselves in.

“We are in a relegation battle. The players and I have done that because we haven’t won enough games. We need to roll our sleeves up and scrap for every point to retain Dorchester at this level.

“We need to win some games so we need to change our mentality from being a mid-table side, to be a team in a relegation battle.”

Speaking after the defeat, Laird was also brutally honest about how the side have performed during his tenure.

He said: “We’re not good enough. We’re playing some good sides but it’s a way to measure ourselves and we haven’t been good enough, and I include myself in that.

“I’ll be measured by results and so far they haven’t been good, so I need to make sure I’m doing the best for the club, the players and the supporters.

“We had a good heart to heart after the game and put everything on the table. Hopefully we can find a resolution but it’s difficult. To lose 5-0 is devastating.

When asked if his side were prepared for the battle ahead, Laird said: “We have to be, we don’t have any choice.

“That’ll be my job now to make sure we’re prepared between now and the end of the season to get the points we need.”