SAM'S IN THE STONES ZONE

UPBEAT music, positive messages only and even group prayers - Sam Cox says Wealdstone's survival story is something to be proud of.

- Matt Badcock

The Stones won three of their final five games to avoid the National League drop after a torrid run had left them peering over a cliff.

That saw David Noble, only appointed in January after Stuart Maynard joined Notts County, part ways and the affable Cox handed the keys for the final stretch.

And the 33-year-old former Barnet, Boreham Wood, Wealdstone and Hampton midfielder couldn't have been prouder after they pulled off a remarkable escape to secure their status.

"Obviously I was brought in in January alongside David Noble and Neil Banfield," Cox told The NLP.

"We always knew the difficulty in the challenge ahead. We'd just sold one of our best players, Ashley Charles, to Bromley, and a change of manager with Stuart May-nard who had been with the club for so long and done such a good job-so it was always going to be a difficult task with a young squad. The fixture pile-up was relentless and, unfortunately, it didn't work out.

"After the Boreham Wood game, which was a difficult defeat, I got the call from the chairman to say the club would be parting ways with David and Neil and they'd like me to take the challenge.

"Listen, it was a shock. David is such a good man and was brilliant with me, along with Neil. It was just unfortunate the way things worked out.