EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry says he is looking to add reinforcements to his squad after admitting he sees a lack of leadership in his side.

Rocks have won just one of their last five matches in league and cup and have conceded 11 goals in their last two matches, against Dartford and Braintree Town.

This follows an excellent first half of the season, in which Coventry’s side impressed in their first ever season in the National League South.

But Coventry says he now thinks changes need to be made.

“In the first half of the season people have said how well we are doing and that is true,” he said. “But I have always said that, should we be up against it then I might have to ask questions.

“I don’t know if I have that leadership and that grit and determination to get us out of the position we find ourselves in now.

“If I can’t find it within the group I will find it somewhere else.

“We are doing Ok in the league. If we get 13 points we would be in the play-offs but if we take none and those below us collect 11 we will be in the relegation places.”

Coventry has wasted no time in making changes, with centre-half Joe Ellul sold to Billericay Town and left-back Teddy Nesbitt released.

He added that the Rookery Hill pitch had been struggling to recover since it took a hammering from the elements on New Year’s Day, but he doesn’t want to use that as an excuse.

“Pitches have been nice up to now but it is a bit different at the moment,” he said. “But bigger and more determined sides may be too good for us. If we make bad decisions, like we did against Braintree, it will be a long second half of the season.

“We don’t train on the pitch but it is what it is. We played Concord on it on very wet conditions and, as always with that pitch, if you play a game on it on the wrong day weather wise it is gone.

“I don’t want to make that excuse but I have to point out this league is new to us and we are still learning. And now we need to learn about how to handle this situation we find ourselves in.

“And we will learn.”