Tooting and Mitcham United midfielder Lee Hall may have lost the armband to the more experienced former Premier League star Jamie Lawrence, but he still has cause to smile.

His demeanour is even more unlikely given that the suspended Hall had to watch from the bench as his team  lost 2-0 at Worthing on Saturday in the Ryman League Division One South – only their second league defeat in seven games – and that Ryan Adams was shown a straight red card late on.

However, Hall, who has six goals to his name so far this season, is thankful to still be at Imperial Fields after new boss Jamie Martin’s sweeping changes saw many of his old team-mates shown the door.

And the fact Martin considers Hall part of his plans has the midfielder bursting with confidence.

Hall said: “When the gaffer stripped me of the armband and gave it to Jamie I was upset, I won’t deny it.

“But the gaffer told me not to read too much into it and that I was still part of his plans for the club.

“He has a great way of boosting your confidence and, to be fair, Jamie’s experience and leadership qualities mean he is the perfect man to be captain.

“Jamie’s someone who the lads look up to, it is impossible not to really. He has the touch of a footballer who has played at the highest level.

“I have the pleasure of playing alongside him in the midfield and I am really enjoying it.

“Jamie is a measure of the quality the gaffer has been able to bring in – Adam Thompson in defence has been immense, he has won things at this level.

“Carl Wilson-Dennis has been a great signing, but I am most surprised by Laurent [Hamici] – I knew the guy was good, but when you see him train and play week in, week out, you realise just how good.”

The wholesale changes made by Martin were, in Hall’s opinion, much needed as the side that began the season under Roberto Forzoni was too young for the rough and tumble of life in Division One South.

Hall said: “I always said our team was a young one, and that it did not have what was needed to play at this level. When you go away from home, it can be very physical and we were being brushed aside quite easily. We did not have the personnel to deal with it.”

However, the new-look Terrors had to field a makeshift side in Sussex on Saturday with Hall and Taurean Roberts suspended, and other players unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.

Such was the Terrors’ dilemma, boss Martin named himself on the bench, and he had to come on when Jordan Wilson felt his hamstring tighten.

Hall said: “We had so many people missing for Worthing that the gaffer had to change the shape of the team and the guys took time to adjust and, by the time they did, we were a goal down.

“We made some changes and we dominated the rest of the match, but we were always chasing the game.

“The gaffer did not want to have to come on as he said himself he was not fit, and when Ryan was sent off, and we had to chase with 10 men, it was likely they would get a second.”

The Terrors hosted Lingfield in the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday night, and they return to league action on Saturday with a trip to Folkestone Invicta.