Worsbrough Bridge's manager insists they deserve a reprieve from relegation despite finishing last with just three wins from 40 league games this season.

The expulsion of Hull United and Lincoln Moorlands means that there are likely to be no more teams relegated this season. Once Hull's possible appeal has been heard, Bridge are hoping to be announced as safe. It has been a horrendous season for Worsbrough, and not just on the pitch where they have failed to win in their final 24 matches – losing 20 of them – with their last win being back in November.

There have also been major off-the-field problems with previous chairman Wayne Radford taking the team to play their home games at Grimethorpe and then Maltby after falling out with the association that runs the ground. The club have had a new structure put in place behind the scenes in recent months with Radford and previous manager Mark Joyce moving on.

Ian Shirt, who has taken over as manager, said: "We have been told as a club that we are likely to be reprieved but we're waiting for it to be confirmed. "It would be great for us because we are one of the founding members of the NCEL and we need to be playing at that level.         I know people will look at the league table and say we don't deserve to stay up but I think we do because of the work we have put in off the pitch to turn the club around.

"Some of the league officials have visited in recent months and seen all the hard work we have been doing since Wayne Radford left. They were really impressed.  We have got a good structure now with people with good connections to the club and we have sponsors who have signed a three-year deal.

"The future is bright. We have moved forward off-the-pitch and I think we will start moving forward on-the-pitch as well.  A lot of players have expressed an interest in playing for us next season and we could have a decent side capable of finishing in mid-table."

Worsbrough showed signs that they can compete at this level in their final two home matches of the season but they continued to be plagued by bizarre incidents and bad luck. They played with just ten men at eighth-placed Knaresborough Town on Thursday after Alex Gillespie could not make the game due to an exhaust problem with his car. Bridge led through Brad Kerr's goal before conceding in the 89th and 90th minutes and losing 2-1.

There were more car problems on Saturday at seventh-placed Shirebrook Town as goalkeeper Jon Davies suffered a puncture on the way to the match so outfielder Gillespie went in goal. The hosts netted the only goal of the game after 81 minutes.

Those two games came at the end of four matches in six days for Bridge which they needed to complete to avoid being removed from the league like Lincoln Moorlands, who were the only team below them before their expulsion earlier this month.

Bridge have lost 31 of their 40 leagues matches – with their three wins and six draws giving them 15 points, 11 fewer than anyone else in the league. Their goals tally of 32 is lowest while they have conceded the most with 134, leaving them with a goal difference of minus 102 – the worst by 34.