WALTHAM FOREST boss Olewale Ojelabi insists he has shut a few people up who treated his appointment as ‘a joke’.

‘Wale’, as he is affectionately known throughout the club, has revitalised the Stags’ ailing season, and while the team are still languishing in the depths of Ryman Division One North, he has helped to distance them from the relegation zone with his new brand of on-field leadership.

The central defender has taken on a duel role, as both player and manager, and has enjoyed more success than failure, guiding the side to a six-game unbeaten run, before injuries started to take their toll.

A sequence of three successive defeats have threatened to throw a spanner in the works, but Wale has assured fans that the club will be competing at the same level next season.

“We will stay up this season, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “Things will start picking up for us when we start to get all of our injured players back this week.

“Some people thought that appointing me was a joke and it’s definitely surprised a few people at how well we’ve done.

“I’m enjoying every bit of management. I am very happy with the players I have and I know that they will deliver.”

The Stags were due to face Maldon Town on Wednesday, while they will take on local rivals Potters Bar Town on Saturday.

There was disappointment for the other local teams at the weekend, as Leyton were beaten 2-1 at home to Chatham Town. The Lilywhites will travel to Wingate & Finchley this week.

Meanwhile, promotion-chasing Waltham Abbey suffered their second consecutive defeat at Tilbury on Saturday. They will play host to Ware at the weekend.

In the Premier Division, Harlow were dragged into the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat to Heybridge Swifts.

Elsewhere, Buckhurst Hill were knocked out of the Essex Olympian Senior Cup at the fourth round stage after a thrilling encounter with Galleywood. Dave Burnage grabbed a hat-trick but it wasn’t enough as the visitors ran out 5-4 winners.

Premier Division Epping were beaten 3-2 by Mountnessing Boca, while Leytonstone lost to Hannakins Farm in Senior Division One.