BOSS Adie Arnold admits new first-team coach Andy Darnton will need broad shoulders to halt Christchurch’s habit of collapsing at vital times.

Second-to-bottom Priory crashed to their seventh straight defeat in all competitions with a 3-0 reverse at Alresford.

And, worryingly for Arnold’s charges, they are still shipping more than three goals per game in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

But with trusty ally Darnton – who worked with Arnold at previous club Verwood – joining the backroom staff following his departure from Bashley, the Hurn Bridge manager hopes to inject some enthusiasm into a flagging campaign.

Defender Jamie Thoroughgood has followed Southampton-based Darnton to Christchurch and Arnold said: “Darts is the sort of character we need and we hope to get in two or three faces on the playing side over the next week or so.

“We work well together and he has great contacts in the Southampton area.

“His experience at Southern and Wessex League levels speaks for itself, but his personality will be just as important.

“We need two or three characters because we have no backbone at the moment.” After a blank first half at Arlebury Park, Alresford put Priory to the sword with a three-goal burst in six second-half minutes.

The breakthrough came just before the hour when Dan Fox controlled a cross from the right and volleyed home on the turn from ten yards.

Two minutes later it was a case of ‘Fox in the box’ as he reacted first to stab home the loose ball after Simon Everett’s shot had hit the post.

With Christchurch still reeling, the Mapgies were awarded a free-kick just outside the area, Sammy Carter’s strike hit the bar and Dan Strange pounced on the rebound. It was an all too familiar story for Arnold, who said: “At 0-0 we look okay, but as soon as a goal goes in we collapse.

“I have been in the game a long time and have never been in a run like this as a player or manager.”

Alresford host third-placed Whitchurch in the league this evening, while Priory head for Horndean in the Russell Cotes Cup.