MANAGER Kem Izzet believes he needs to change the "mindset and DNA" of his Brightlingsea Regent players.

The R's are hovering just one place and one point above the BetVictor Isthmian League premier division relegation zone after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Kingstonian on Saturday.

It was their seventh reverse in eight games, in addition to exiting the FA Trophy and Essex Senior Cup.

Izzet, who took over last month, admits it is "difficult and frustrating" but believes that by working hard and staying positive, his side can soon develop a winning mentality.

“The boys are going out with the very best intentions to try and implement the things we’ve worked on in training," said the Colchester United legend.

“But when things don’t go to plan, you tend to revert back to what you’ve always known.

“We have to shift back into gear, but then end up reverting to type again.

“It’s about changing that mindset and changing their DNA.

“I’m asking the players to do things that aren’t natural to them.

“It’s difficult and frustrating at the moment and maybe I’m being hyper-critical of the boys, because we haven’t got the time we need.

“Maybe I need to look at myself and ask whether I’m expecting too much of the players, too soon.

“I don’t know. I’ll have a think about it and speak to some people.

“I’m not one to keep pointing the finger.

"At some point you must look at yourself and question whether you’re doing everything you can."

Izzet had mixed feelings after last week's defeat at the Taydal Stadium.

He saw things to be positive about but knows there are still areas to work on.

“There wasn’t much between the teams and the goals we conceded were almost comical," he said.

“There wasn’t much quality on show, either from us or them, but what disappointed me most was the fact we didn’t start passing the ball around until the very end, when it was too late.

“I don’t know why that didn’t happen sooner, because that’s what we’ve been working on in training.

“It’s frustrating because we’re almost accepting people making mistakes and doing the wrong things.

“We’re letting people get away with things but if someone isn’t doing the job they’re being asked to do, they need to be told.

“It’s about getting a reaction from someone.

“Maybe that’s happening because the players are so low on confidence.

“They don’t want to dig someone else out when perhaps they’re not doing their own job properly.

“It takes a brave person to do that but that’s the type of team we need to become."