Jonny Wright admits Wealdstone need to grow up and wise up quickly to avoid being cast adrift at the foot of Conference South.

Last season’s Ryman Premier League champions remain winless eight games into life back at Conference level and were propping up the rest after losing at home to then bottom Bath City on Monday night.

Striker Wright knows what it feels like to struggle at this level having flirted with relegation twice over six seasons in the Conference North with former club Workington.

Consequently, he knows the danger of allowing the current three-point gap to the rest to stretch any further and he called on the experienced heads in the ranks to stand up and fight.

“We have got to change things quickly because I’ve been here before and we have got to win a game,” he said

“The biggest issue is you can’t get adrift. If the gap becomes four or five points it is then more than a win and psychologically that affects a lot of people.

“We need to grow up, stop being boys and start being more difficult to beat. We need to get back to the first half against Eastbourne and the second half against Bishop Stortford where we looked solid and good on the counter.

“Teams like Bath should not come and beat us at home. That is to do with the 11 players on the pitch, not the shape of the team it is about players, including me – I need to be better as well.”

According to the 28-year-old, another aspect of the ‘growing up process’ is about developing an ugly streak and being as cute as rivals like Bath were on Monday night with their theatrical play-acting and time-wasting tactics.

Such an approach runs counter to boss Gordon Bartlett’s football philosophy, but Wright feels there are times when Stones need to play opponents at their own game.

“We need to be nastier because we are too nice,” said.

“A lot of teams are smarter than us as well. They play act a lot, run around the referees, ask for everything and scream and shout, but they have got that bit between their teeth which is something we need to get.”

There are reasons behind Stones’ woeful start to the campaign, the departures of Glen Little and Tom Pett were followed by left-back Jerome Okimo joining the latter at Stevenage almost on the eve of the big kick-off.

Wright acknowledges the impact the loss of the trio has had, but insists they have the talent to rise above it.

However, he knows that must start with Saturday’s trip to face Concord Rangers.

He added: “Those players are difficult to replace. Glen (Little) had experience, a calm head and could control the game. Tom was our game changer and Jerome was strong, so the timing of his departure was not great.

“We have brought in good players, but a lot of players, so we are switching it around a lot and we need time to gel, but we have got to do it quicker.

“We won’t get beat Saturday - we can’t get beat Saturday because it is embarrassing now.

“I can’t think of the last time a Wealdstone team were last in a position like this in a league and none of us want to be part of one now.”