Simon sensing change in mood
BURSCOUGH boss Simon Hardman has sensed a growing mood of defiance amongst his rock bottom Burscough team - and it has given him confidence that his players can conjure up a great escape in the second half of the season.
The Linnets are nine points adrift at the bottom of the Evo Stik First Division North, but since Hardman took over the reins there has been a marked improvement in performances.
“We lost 1-0 to the league leaders Ossett Town recently, took the lead against Farsley Celtic, another high flying team before losing 3-1 and then we were narrowly beaten again on Boxing Day.
“There have been massive signs of improvement. A lot of teams in this league are of a very similar level and we just need the rub of the green or a referee’s decision not to go against us.
“But the players definitely do not want to go down. None of them want relegation on their record and they will be giving everything to try and avoid that.”
Hardman has been pitched in at the deep end with another testing trip to second placed Lancaster City on Thursday night, before the short trip to Prescot Cables on Monday afternoon.
“You can measure how far you have come against teams at the top of the table,” added Hardman “and on the last few performances I don’t think we are that far away from the leading sides.
“I haven’t really had the time to get out on there on the training pitch with them just yet and there are one or two things I want to work on, but that will be happening soon.”
Hardman also hopes to bring in a few new faces to work with.
“Hopefully that will happen in the next seven to 10 days,” he added. “That will give us a squad of 17 or 18 players to work with going forward and a nucelus of a squad which can take us up the table.”
Hardman hopes that upwardly mobile charge can begin at Lancaster City’s evocatively named Giant Axe stadium on Thursday (7.45pm), before the trip to third from bottom Prescot Cables on Monday (3pm).
“There is no negativity amongst the lads, no heads down because they can see things changing within matches,” he added.
“We just need that draw or that win as a platform to build on and we can take it from there.”