"THERE are a few twists left to come" was manager Steve Griffin's warning to the teams just above Whyteleafe in the Ryman table as he faces a desperate battle to save his team from the drop.

Whyteleafe are propping up the Division One South, and nine points adrift of safety, but with many of the teams at the bottom yet to play each other, Griffin believes there will be a few shock results.

"All the teams fighting down there are still to play each other so there will be a few twists and surprise results before the end of the season," the Leafe manager insisted. "It is going to be a challenge to save Whyteleafe but I definitely think it is doable."

Griffin only took over as manager at Church Road last month after previously being assistant to then-boss Nicky English, but has a mammoth task ahead of him in the 13 games left of Leafe's season. The task was made even harder when previous bottom club, Croydon Athletic's results were expunged from the league table, therefore erasing one of only three league wins Leafe have managed this campaign.

But Griffin is confident he can turn Whyteleafe's tide.

"The team have been losing for a long time now but no-one has beaten us up; we have only been losing by the odd goal," Griffin explained. "But the league table doesn't lie but what I'm saying is we are losing games based on individual errors.

"We needed to improve all over the pitch, but there is no mystery to it; if we are going to start winning some games it will be down to hard work."

Since taking over, Griffin has strengthened his team by bringing in striker Reggie Savage from Ramsgate, former Arsenal midfielder Ian Selley on loan from Kingstonian, and defender Louis Clark and forward Omar Folkes, both from Merstham.

And Griffin believes extra training sessions Leafe have been undertaking will have improved the team's confidence, which is vital should his side hope to get a result when they travel to fourth from bottom Walton & Hersham on Saturday.

"Saturday is a very big game for us, but then with 13 games left, they are all big games from us," the manager insisted.

"The team was lacking in confidence but we have been working on that in training. We need to work hard and change the mentally, but the spirit in the camp has always been good.

"And Walton & Hersham are battling down there with us but we need to get some more points on the board if we are avoid relegation."