DAVE Tuttle has stressed that it would take time to re-build and stabilise Burnham after their relegation and a poor start to the new season.

Burnham, relegated from the Southern Football League, have failed to hit the ground running in the Hellenic Premier Division this year.

After an 8-1 hammering on the opening day and an early exit from the FA Cup, The Blues’ struggles continued this week.

They suffered a 2-0 defeat against Tuffley Rovers on Saturday, in a match where three Burnham players were sent off.

That was followed with a 4-0 loss away at Binfield on Monday evening, where Callum Stratford was sidelined with a broken foot.

“It’s disappointing but obviously the better side won on Monday,” Tuttle told the Observer.

“People thought we would be strong and one of the favourites [for the title] but we’re still trying to get a group of players together to compete in the league since we’ve been relegated.

“Most of the players have left and gone to other clubs, like Bracknell, and we’re having to rebuild. We are definitely looking for new players.

“We are working with the players that we’ve brought in. We’re trying to build up their confidence and see where it takes us.

“We have a few players still out, some suspensions coming up, others that have holidays, and now we’ve lost Callum through injury.

“I think we could be six or seven players short on Saturday so I’ll have to rebuild again.”

Asked if he was confident of turning things around, Tuttle replied: “You always have to be confident or you give up. It’s going to take time, probably a season.

“We just have to try and stay up, stabilise, and then see where we can take the club.”

Binfield hit four without reply against Burnham on a night when they could have had more goals at Hill Farm Lane.

Just 10 minutes in, Jean-Claude Etienne met a super cross by Jake White to stab home the opener, and his first goal of the season.

Liam Ferdinand doubled the advantage when latching onto a Claude-Etienne through ball in the 37th minute, after Binfield had seen a strong penalty appeal waved away.

The Moles made the points safe on 70 minutes as a Ross Seldon shot found the bottom corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

With seconds remaining in time added on, Ferdinand volleyed home his second goal of the match after Burnham failed to clear a corner.

Tuffley Rovers made it two from two in the league this season when goals by Ashley Davies and Warren Mann beat eight-man Burnham 2-0 at The Gore on Saturday.

The Blues were two goals down when Uridon Daka, Alex Mwetaminwa saw red for a second caution, before Seve Maybury was shown a straight red card.

Burnham are away to Lydney Town this Saturday (3pm) before hosting Thatcham Town at The Gore on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).