FC CLACTON defender Lee Clowsley believes his side can become a force next season – regardless of which division they are in.

The Seasiders are second from bottom in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division and nine points adrift of the last safe position, currently occupied by Walsham-le-Willows.

However, it is unclear how many teams will be relegated and therefore not known whether they will fall through the trapdoor or not.

Clacton may drop into division one – but they could be given a reprieve, due to league restructuring, and therefore remain in the league’s top flight.

Either way, Clowsley believes his home-town club can look forward to a much brighter and more positive 2017/18 campaign.

“We’re disappointed about our league position but are looking beyond this season and I feel upbeat whatever happens,” said the defender, who recently returned to Clacton after parting company with Wivenhoe Town.

“If we stay up, I’m confident we’ve got a squad that will stick together and push on next season.

“We could compete for a top-ten spot, if that were to happen.

“But if we go down, that could end up being a good thing too because I’d be hopeful we could challenge for promotion and come straight back up.

“Going down and taking a step back certainly wasn’t a bad thing for my ex-club, Wivenhoe.

“It brought a positive buzz to the club and some success - success which I’m grateful to have shared and been a part of.

“People soon forgot about the relegation and we managed to win the club’s first title for decades.

“There’s no reason why something similar can’t be emulated here if our fate is in division one next season. How amazing would it be to try and bring some silverware back to the club?”

In the meantime, Clowsley has not given up hope of a dramatic finale to the season and scrambling out of the bottom three.

Clacton have nine games left – six at home and three away – and the first of those is Saturday’s trip to Thetford Town.

“We’ve got nine games left and have to treat them all like cup finals,” said Clowsley.

“We play some of the other teams down there with us and have to target points from those games.

“We’ve got a lot of players who want to stick around and push on.

“Their attitude is spot on and second to none. You’d never know that this is a club sitting second from bottom in the table.

“If we can finish strongly and beat sides around us, who’s to say the league table won’t look very different in nine games’ time.”