Beleaguered Huntingdon boss Ian Edge has ordered his players to restore some respectability as the first step towards turning the club’s fortunes around.

Town have not tasted success since January – a run which stands at 26 matches in all competitions – and are already rooted to the bottom of the United Counties League Premier Division table.

And Edge insists he cannot tolerate more performances like those produced in their last two defeats with 15 goals conceded in an 8-0 drubbing at Wellingborough last Tuesday and a 7-2 rout at Sleaford last Saturday.

Edge said: “In the final weeks of last season and the early weeks of the new campaign, I have deflected the criticism away from the players.

“But it is getting to the point now where I will not shoulder all the blame for the situation we are in.

“We know we are short of quality and that is to be expected in our situation of not having a budget, but I can’t accept the lack of passion and desire from some people.

“We are not even close to competing and we are making far too many basic errors which get punished at this level. We’re leaking goals at one end and struggling to score them at the other, but we have got to start getting things a lot more respectable.

“Ridiculous scorelines like those in the last two games have to stop. The boys need to roll their sleeves up, grit their teeth and battle.”

Huntingdon host an AFC Kempston Rovers side talked of as potential Premier Division title candidates tonight (Wednesday) at Jubilee Park.

They then travel to lower-level Downham Town in the opening round of the FA Vase on Saturday.

Edge hopes to bolster his squad with a couple of new faces during the coming days, but he could face losing attacking player Jordan Brockett. Eynesbury Rovers and Peterborough Northern Star have both made approaches for him.

St Neots Saints are another team still waiting for a win this season - they lost 4-2 to Lutterworth in Division One last Saturday.