ANOTHER summer “rebuilding” job at Worcester City has not helped their cause this season, according to manager Carl Heeley.

The Blue and Whites slumped to the bottom of Vanarama National League North on Monday after a 1-0 loss at Stockport County.

And Heeley admitted he was not surprised by City’s sorry start considering the amount of players coming in and out of the club.

After the 2015-16 campaign came to a close, experienced duo Nathan Vaughan and Wayne Thomas moved on, while talented trio Dan Nti, Alex Gudger and Sam Minihan were also among those who left.

With so many of last season’s squad departing, Heeley said he was left in a “difficult” position as he put together a side made up of 15 new signings, including youngsters Chekaine Steele, Nathan Olukanmi and Colby Bishop.

“We have to take players that are generally unproven at this level — a case in point is Sam and Alex,” Heeley said.

“But, because of a combination of financial and, in Sam’s case, logistical reasons, we lose them and then we are rebuilding all the time.

“I don’t think it (the way we have started) is a coincidence when you don’t have that continuation and core of your squad together.

“If you look at probably the best ever cup run this club have had, it was built on the core of the side from the previous season and some good additions again from lower levels.

“It is difficult but it is what it is and for the foreseeable future it will be like that, so we have to try to make the best of what we have got.”

Worcester have picked up just two points from the opening seven games and Heeley revealed some of his inexperienced players were “very low” on confidence.

But he insisted it was important his team, who face a must-win clash against Gainsborough Trinity at the Victoria Ground tomorrow (3pm), “do not lose belief in their own ability”.

“There are certain people within that changing room who have gone through these scenarios as players and know what to do,” Heeley added.

“But when you are a young lad, making your way, it is difficult so they have to dig themselves out of it and find their own solutions.

“There are one or two players very low on confidence in the changing room but you can only keep building them up, so they have to find a way. When they do, we have got good players.”