BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent boss Tom Rothery insists there is no chance of his players putting their feet up and letting the season fizzle out.

Barring a disastrous end to the campaign, the R's now look to have done enough to ensure another year of step three football.

Saturday's 2-1 success at Bostik League premier division basement boys Burgess Hill Town put them 14 points clear of the struggling Sussex side.

And with only one side falling through the relegation trapdoor this season, Regent have virtually guaranteed premier division football in 2018/19.

However, Rothery insists no-one will be taking their foot off the gas and wants his players to build on their recent success in the final ten games.

"Our last two league games have been polar opposites in the sense that we played the top team (Dulwich Hamlet) and then the bottom team," he told the Gazette.

"Burgess Hill are a decent side - better than their league position suggests - and we knew we'd be under massive heat if we lost.

"The pressure would have been on, to some extent, but now, thankfully, we've put a real buffer between us and them.

"That said, there's no way we can let the season fizzle out and it's certainly not a case of putting our feet up.

"We need to finish as high as possible and that's always been the aim.

"We want to do ourselves justice and be the best we can be.

"There are such fine margins in this league and I wouldn't say the boys are working any harder now than during our losing run.

"However, I have to praise them because they're showing so much determination and character.

"Everyone has done well and played their part."

Regent now finish their season with a chaotic spell of fixtures.

They conclude March with a home clash against Thurrock on Saturday, followed by Tuesday's trip to Staines Town and then a match at Enfield Town.

The R's then have a crazy April with seven matches - five of which are at the Taydal Stadium.

Lowestoft, Billericay Town, Harrow Borough, Leatherhead and Metropolitan Police all make the journey to north Essex, with the club's fixture list being completed by trips to Harlow Town and Worthing.

"It's going to stretch us squad-wise but the big positive is that a lot of the matches are at home," added Rothery.

"That cuts out some travelling, which contributes to the fatigue.

"Crippo (skipper Matt Cripps) coming back this weekend (after serving his suspension) will be a massive plus and Ricky (Griggs) could possibly be involved on Saturday.

"He had a groin injury and has also had problems with his back.

"However, I certainly won't rush him back.

"There's no point, especially with this crazy run of games coming up."