NEW boss Dominic Cunliffe feels certain he knows what is required to arrest Bashley’s slump – even without seeing his side first hand.

Cunliffe, handed the reins at the New Forest outfit last Tuesday, was unable to witness the opening match of his tenure – a 4-0 home defeat to Swindon Supermarine – due to a pre-arranged personal commitment sanctioned by the club’s board.

He still delivered his pre-match team-talk via loudspeaker with assistant Paul Morris and reserve team boss Andy Howard directing operations from the dugout.

There had been little to choose between the teams before Josh Morse opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with second-half goals from Chris Taylor and substitutes Luke Hopper and Aaron Ferris putting Supermarine out of sight.

But while struggling Bash suffered their eighth consecutive Southern South & West defeat, a run which has seen them ship some 40 goals, Cunliffe remained confident in pin-pointing the source of the team’s problems.

He told the Daily Echo: “Unfortunately, I could not be there which the board knew when they appointed me but I still wanted to give my pre-match talk and the lads appreciated that. It was good to relay my thoughts having worked on bits and pieces on Thursday.

“I had a good conversation with Paul Morris, Andy Howard and the skipper Chris Hall after the game and all three were very honest in their assessments.

“To lose a goal 30 seconds before half-time was a bit demoralising but from everything I have heard, the lads worked exceptionally hard and stuck to our game-plan which was to frustrate Swindon.

“We knew they would be good down the middle so to contain them for the most part was very encouraging.

“Paul (Morris) was delighted with the midfield running and the way we did not allow our heads to drop.

“But the lads are saying it themselves, they are not fit and that is something we have to work on over the next few weeks. We were brutally honest when we came in, they need to step up their levels, especially at this time of year on heavier surfaces.

“It will take four to five weeks but that aside, they cannot be faulted. I am very encouraged but now we need to get together and make a difference.”

Bash: C Maher, D Maher, O’Connell, Morris (Coombes, 82), Petty, Aimson, Hall, Booker, L Speechley-Price (Bosma, 71), Makoni, Cullingford (Head, 71). Unused subs: Moore, Lambourne (g/k).