TAUNTON Town’s caretaker manager Paul Short is adamant the club will avoid relegation from the Southern League’s Division One South and West.

Club coach Short was put in charge until the rest of the season following Ian Jones’s resignation and will be assisted by Paul West.

Bracknell’s win at Hayes on Tuesday saw Taunton slip into the relegation zone with just four games left to play, but Short believes they can steer the team to safety.

He said: “I see no reason why we can’t pick up nine points from our last four games, which should be enough to keep us up.

“The players are good enough to achieve that, we just need everyone to get behind us, which hasn’t always been the case this season.

“I think Ian will admit things had stagnated a bit and the club needed freshening up – that seems to have happened already.

“I’ve had a chat with the players and they’re 100% committed to the club and are confident we can stay in the division.”

The duo have their work cut out as Taunton have lost six of their last seven while their closest rivals Bracknell and Winchester have won two and three in a row, respectively. Taunton have two vital games over the Easter weekend. On Saturday, they travel to face Slough Town and on Easter Monday host runaway leaders Truro City (3pm).

Centre back Owen Irish is suspended for both matches, while brother Lewis is banned for the game at Slough.

Taunton’s last two games are away to North Leigh (April 18) and home to Burnham (April 25).