TONY Gore blamed the swift decline of Dudley Sports on a lack of player loyalty having lost another member of his squad.

Adam Skeldon has jumped ship to West Midlands League rivals Smethwick as Sports continue to struggle at the wrong end of the Premier Division.

Less than a year after finishing seventh, high enough for a place in the FA Cup, Gore's men are nine points adrift of safety in their 14th season at their current level.

And while the boss was keen not to make Skeldon a scapegoat, he said the departure was indicative of the club's problems.

"This is probably as hard as it has been here and this is my ninth season," said Gore. "Injuries and a lack of loyalty from players has decimated us.

"Players jump ship at the sign of a couple of pounds and there should be a little bit of loyalty in the game but unfortunately there is not, not towards us anyway.

"Last season was one of the best the club had enjoyed and we were excited about entering the FA Cup but then we started to get injuries and players left. It has been one thing after another, we have had more ambulances than wins and it knocks you back a bit.

"You look at yourself and ask whether you are doing the right things but we haven't changed the approach which made us successful last season.

"Players want loyalty when they are not playing so well but when it goes the other way, they show none to you which hurts a little."

Dudley's latest setback was a 5-1 reverse at home to high-flying Wolverhampton Sporting Community on Saturday. Liam Timms scored a penalty after a foul on Shepherd Machinguata to level matters at half-time.

"It was harsh on us," said Gore. "We didn't get the rub of the green and felt the first three goals were all dubious.

"The one was a foul on our left-back in the build up, the second was a blatant five from their forward and the third was offside.

"It left a bit of a sour taste because while we were under strength, the lads played well against a good side.

"You don't ask for any favours from the officials, you just need them to get the big decisions right but it has gone now."

Gore, however, remains optimistic Sports can still survive this season.

"We have to stick together, pull in the same direction and I am sure we will get out of it. We have more than half a season left and the key will be our four or five games in hand," he added.

"We have a big month coming up against teams around us so we just have to get on with it. In a month's time, we will know where where we are."

Stuart Hillman, Tom Watkins and Josh Taylor all return but Curtis Cocking is a doubt for Saturday's trip to Stone Old Alleynians (3pm).