St Albans City caretaker boss Harry Wheeler insists the players are definitely good enough to keep the side in the National League South this season.

The Saints are languishing in the relegation zone in 20th place after just five wins from 23 league matches.

But Wheeler, who has been in charge of the side since the start of last month, is convinced the squad are strong enough to get the necessary points to survive.

Wheeler said: “With the players we’ve got I’m convinced we will climb out of this.

“If you look at the players at all the clubs in the division, perhaps with the exception of Whitehawk and Ebbsfleet, I think ours are as good as the other teams. The players are definitely good enough to get us out of trouble.”

Wheeler has taken temporary charge of the club following the exits of joint managers James Gray and Graham Golds at the end of November.

He works full time at Dagenham & Redbridge as a coach and will speak to new boss John Still this week about his future.

But Wheeler has confirmed he will definitely stay in charge for the Saints’ trip to promotion challengers Sutton United this Saturday.

Wheeler said: “I came in to steady the ship and that’s what we’ve done. I work full time at Dagenham so will be speaking to John but it will also depend on what St Albans want. I’m taking the team this weekend and then we may know a bit more next week.”

Third-placed Sutton will present a difficult challenge for the Saints but Wheeler insists his team can rise to the occasion.

He said: “We will do all our homework but we know they’re a good side and have won seven of their last nine games. But these are the teams that we want to come up against. It will be good to measure ourselves against them.”

The Saints come into the match off the back of successive points following a 1-1 draw at home to Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday in their first game of the new year.

Bishop’s Stortford made a bright start to the game at Clarence Park and opened the scoring after nine minutes.

De’Reece Vanderhyde sent in a cross and Morgan Ferrier’s attempted header which struck his shoulder crept into the net off the post.

Louie Theophanous almost scored an equaliser for City but the striker’s glancing header was superbly saved by visiting goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.

The Saints improved in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser when Theophanous hammered a shot home.

Wheeler said: “I think it was a fair result. People may say we should have won it but you can’t forget the first half.

“I thought they deserved the lead but we were the better side in the second half.”