Nikki Bull admits that Saturday's game at Weston-super-Mare could have a huge bearing on what division he leaves Margate in at the end of the season.

Bull's side go into the match 15th, just six points off the Vanarama National League South relegation zone, and seven clear of next-to-bottom Weston.

Their perilous position is as a result of seven successive defeats, all of which is in stark contrast to manager Bull's first 11 games, which produced eight wins and two draws.

Bull, who this week found out that the club could not afford to offer him a full-time contract for next season, explained:"With every defeat the next game gets bigger and Saturday is a massive match for us. It's no longer about performances, we need to find a result however we can.

"We're running out of games, so now it's about finding results by any means and if we win at Weston I think we can put them to bed. They'd be 10 points behind us with six games to play and would probably have to win at least four of them."

The Margate manager feels his side need six points from their remaining five games to be absolutely safe from relegation, but he admits the build-up to the Weston trip has not been ideal.

On Wednesday Gate's new owner/chairman John Webb confirmed Bull's contract situation in a statement, and the same afternoon 12-goal top scorer Freddie Ladapo's move to Barclays Premier League side Crystal Palace finally went through.

That came on the back of previous owner/chairman Bob Laslett's decision to stand down - announced last Wednesday (March 23) - and amid allegations that there was a dressing room confrontation between some of the players and chief executive/vice-chairman Chris Pope after Monday's 1-0 home defeat to Concord.

Bull declined to comment on those claims, and says the squad - only five of whom have contracts beyond the end of the season - remain committed to keeping the Blues up.

He explained: "At the moment I need every body I can get, and on Saturday I've got to have as many men as possible on the pitch. It will be a day for fighters. It may be that we go back to not being pretty but at this stage it's all about getting a result."

For the trip to Weston - who beat leaders Ebbsfleet in their last home match on Good Friday - Gate will be without defenders Jake Goodman, who serves the last of his three-match ban, and Brett Johnson, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket.

Midfielder Kane Wills is struggling with a calf problem while Christian Jolley picked up a knee injury in Monday's game against Concord, which means Bull may spring a surprise up front.

It has emerged the club tried to sign former Dover and Welling striker Tomi Adeloye - a one-time Stoke trainee - last Thursday but the paperwork could not be completed by the 5pm deadline.

Bull admitted scoring goals remains one of Gate's biggest problems and he may be forced to try something unorthodox at Weston.

He added: "It's obvious from the last couple of games that we need a presence up front. Some of our build-up play against Concord was quite good but what we haven't had is someone who can occupy defenders."