NEWTOWN Football Club face a massive game in their bid for top flight survival, at home to Afan Lido this weekend.
The build-up to the match has seen club chairman Elwyn Preece come out in support of manager Bernard McNally, following a disastrous start to the season.
In a frank admission Preece conceded the club had failed to give their summer appointment “sufficient tools to do the job.”
However he still believes the club can retain their unbroken top flight status and asked supporters to keep the faith ahead of the Lido clash.
“The league is highly competitive with many clubs strengthening at a time when we had to spend less money,” said Preece.
“We are fully behind the manager and his assistant and will be backing them to build the side which is currently a work in progress.
“We are still confident of survival which is our principle aim this season and hope to target a good run in the Welsh Cup this year.”
The club will look to struggle on until January when the transfer window opens, with Preece confident the signings to save the club from the drop will be made.
“The January transfer window will have to be used to find the bigger, stronger players that we lack in key areas,” he said, “but until then the high spirits in the squad will need to be maintained and I am sure if they keep playing decent football the rewards should come.”
McNally thanked Preece and the club for their unstinting support during a torrid start to the season, which has seen them outclassed by Neath, Llanelli and Bangor City.
“The chairman is very experienced at this level and to get his backing after the run that we have been on is really appreciated,” said McNally.
“We are now going into a run of games which we will aim to win. I do not think I am saying anything too surprising when I say that the likes of Afan Lido will probably be with us in the bottom six when the league splits mid-season.”
McNally admitted the budget at Newtown means the Robins will start every game as underdogs this season, but hopes the January window will see him able to strengthen.
He added: “We have the lowest budget in the league by quite a margin but I know what we need in January and up until then we must mash it up and not be a pushover for sides.”