Last autumn North Village were heavily favoured to clinch a third successive league title . . . how quickly things have changed.

Not only do the Reds? chances of basking in the glory of another league crown appear increasingly bleak, but the battle cry at Bernard Park also seems to have changed to one of survival.

Village currently lie sixth in the Premier Division on nine points with only three wins so far from eight matches, a mere two points adrift of bottom dwellers Somerset Eagles and Hamilton Parish and trailing league leaders Dandy Town by nine.

The current Martonmere Cup champions were scheduled to meet cross-town rivals Devonshire Cougars last Friday at Devonshire Recreation Club, but that fixture fell victim to heavy rains and was postponed.

Still, despite his team?s indifferent form this season and lowly league position, Village coach Scott Morton reckons the league title race is not over yet and in no way feels threatened over the looming prospect of relegation to the First Division.

In fact, Morton is highly confident his charges can stop the rot and remain in contention for local football?s most coveted prize.

?I am not even thinking about it (relegation) at the moment.

?The players know their quality and what they can achieve and we are still looking at our chances of winning the league . . . not relegation,? he said.

Morton blamed complacency for the team?s current status.

?At times teams go through droughts and I think we are definitely going through one at the moment,? he said.

?Player?s complacency . . . I?ve seen a lot of that. Players not having the desire they once possessed because they have secured a few trophies in such a short period of time.

?So that same dedication and desire to feed oneself is no longer there.?

As for his team?s ever loosening grip on the league title, Morton commented: ?I have all the confidence in my players.

?At times things can be frustrating but it?s like a family. Difficult times do arise and we suffer the brunt of the criticism when things aren?t going well. But as a family we must also stick together and overcome these problems.

?We?ve had the same team for the past three years, so players have to understand that they ultimately take the responsibility once the match starts.?