Billy Smith admits Tooting & Mitcham’s financial constraints are likely to see the Terrors miss out on a prized Ryman Premier play-off spot.

Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Ashford Town, their fourth loss in their last five home games, saw Tooting slip out of the play-off places.

And with injuries to Andrew Howell (hamstring), Allan McLeod (foot) and Paul Vines (back) piling the pressure onto an already stretched squad, Smith reckons expectations need to be watered down at Imperial Fields.

He said: “I am not the miracle worker some people think I am.

“We are down to the bare bones now and I could not even name the number of substitutes I wanted at the weekend.

“This season we have hung in there because we managed to keep the same players out there week in, week out but our lack of strength in depth is really coming home to roost now.

“Players like Jamie Byatt and Mike Heverin are out for a long time and we have nobody to come in and replace them.

“If people look at the bigger picture it is very easy to see the problems we have here - when we play other sides their programmes have a squad of 20 or so players whereas we are trying to fiddle by with what we have.

“But it hasn’t got to the stage that me or George will be playing yet, although if it comes to that I’ll probably pick myself as I’m two-footed whereas George is only good with his right!”

Simon Parker grabbed two excellent goals against Ashford only for it to prove in vain.

And Smith accepts that things have to improve for the visit to Harrow Borough this weekend.

He added: “We have to get on with it and keep fighting.

“With all the disruption at the moment we are conceding some silly goals and if we cannot stop that we will achieve nothing this season.”

Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Feb 13 Harrow Borough (a), 20 Sutton United (h), 27 Hendon (h)