MANAGER Chris Hudson has vowed to bring the glory days back to Wivenhoe Town.

The Dragons boss took over in December but has been unable to halt the club’s slide towards the foot of the Thurlow Nunn League table.

They are bottom of the premier division and will be playing step six football again next season, in the league’s new Essex division.

However, Hudson is adamant progress is being made and believes he is the man to rejuvenate the Broad Lane side.

“I definitely want to be here next season,” he told the Gazette.

“I hope to be here for a period of time and to bring the glory days back to our club.

“That’s what I want and what the players want.

“Everyone has been great to me and I only want the best for Wivenhoe Town.

“I’m very passionate about football and very passionate about my boys here.

“Even when it’s impossible to stay up, we’ll stick together and fight.

“I came on board halfway through the season and it’s always difficult when that happens, because you’re effectively having your pre-season during the actual season.

“The players are getting used to my style of football and the standards I expect but rather than that happening in friendlies, it’s happening in important league games.

“That’s not making any excuses, though, and we’re definitely making progress, albeit in fits and starts rather than over a longer period of time.

“We’re a better and stronger squad than we were a month or two ago and with a few additions in the summer, I believe we’ll have a good shot at being where we need to be next season.

“A full year together will only make us better and hopefully I’ll get time in the summer to reshape the squad, to help make us more competitive.”

Wivenhoe suffered a 5-2 defeat in Tuesday’s Thurlow Nunn League derby at home to FC Clacton.

Former Dragon Matt Eve netted twice for the Seasiders and he was joined on the scoresheet by Billy Wales, Jake Plane and Kieran Baker.

Aaron Donaldson and Ross McLintock notched the Wivenhoe goals.

“We seem to wake up after going behind in games,” said Witham-based Hudson, who started his football career as a youth player at Fulham before moving to Germany, where he played professionally in the Bundesliga.

“Unfortunately, it’s part of the mindset in terms of where the club’s been this season and it’s going to take time to change that.

“It’s unfortunate because when we get into our groove and play the way we want to play, we can compete.

“However, we need to do that from the beginning of a game, rather than for periods within it.

“We seem to take a couple of steps forward when there are lots of positives.

“Then you have the negative side of it and that’s what we got in the first half against Clacton.

“The boys were gutted afterwards and that’s a good sign because it shows they believe they can play better.

“We need to show a bit more desire, heart and passion and if we do that, we’ll get there.”

Wivenhoe continue their league campaign with a trip to high-flying Stowmarket Town tonight.

And they will be hoping to make a better start than they did on Tuesday night.

Clacton seized the initiative by taking the lead after just five minutes.

Kevin Coyle’s precision pass found Eve, who delivered a low cross from the left.

Wales connected with it and turned in the box before lashing a powerful effort high into the net.

The Seasiders effectively killed the contest with two goals in quick succession, after 25 and 27 minutes. Plane, also a former Wivenhoe player, doubled their lead after pouncing from close range, turning the ball home after keeper Lewis Downs saved an acrobatic effort from Wales.

Eve then scored his first of the night, drilling home from wide on the right, and he added his second five minutes after the break, turning home a right-wing cross from Plane.

Donaldson gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, slotting home after nudging the ball beyond keeper Peter Haxell.

And McLintock’s long-range screamer nine minutes from time, after cutting in from the right, added more respectability as the hosts produced a much-improved second-half performance.

However, it was Clacton who scored the final goal of the night to move 5-2 ahead.

Substitute Baker nodded home after a long throw into the box from Coyle.