ESSEX coach Paul Grayson has spoken of his frustration with their poor start to the season, but says they have become victims of their own success.

In recent years the county has consistently reached the latter stages of the short form of the game and been promoted to the top flight of the Championship.

But they are currently way off the pace in division two following last year’s relegation and, although well placed in the CB40, face an uphill battle in qualifying for the knock-out stages in the Twenty20 competition.

They have not been helped by injuries and the loss of form of key players. But fans have also criticised Grayson and skipper James Foster for tactics and team selection.

Grayson admitted the season had not gone to plan so far, but said he is confident they can finish strongly.

He said: “I feel frustrated we have not performed as we can do.

“And it is frustrating when you have players who you have backed and they are not playing to their potential.

“So it is a big test for all of us to keep going, and keep believing we will turn it around.

“But we have got a good team spirit – we’ve always had that – despite what is written in the Press sometimes. I don’t care about that. And we are always looking to bring new players into the club, if I was not doing that I would not feel I was doing my job properly.

“But we work with a smallish budget here and over the past couple of years perhaps we have over-achieved a bit and set some very high standards.

“And now other teams have raised their game and we have to respond that if we are going to keep up with them.

“But we have the quality and togetherness here to do that, and I am confident we can finish the season well.”

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S ECHO