Chorley fans deserve better - Hesketh

7:29pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Chorley manager Tony Hesketh has apologised to Magpies fans for his team's performance against Rossendale United on Saturday which saw them go down to their second defeat defeat in five days.

Their 4-2 defeat to Rossendale followed a 3-2 home defeat to Clitheroe last Tuesday and means their remaining two league fixtures at Radcliffe away on Saturday and at home to Bridlington Town the next week could be crucial if they are to avoid finishing bottom of the table and possible relegation.

The UniBond League are expected to make an announcement within the next few days as to whether the bottom club will be relegated.

The league decided last year that the bottom club in each of the First Divisions would go out at the end of this season and although Newcastle Blue Star have opted to return to the Arngrove Northern League, this doesn't automatically rule out relegation of the club finishing at the bottom.

It is understood that North West Counties League bosses are anxious not to weaken their own competition further by agreeing to promotion without a Step 4 club coming back.

But Chorley should be still be safe as Woodley Sports are favourites to finish at the bottom. They are currently seven points behind Cholrey with a game in hand, and two of their three remaining fixtures are against promotion chasers - FC United and new leaders Bradford Park Avenue.

Chorley manager Tony Hesketh said:"We started brightly on Saturday and Danny Pilkington's goal was a great opener for us. For 20 minutes we competed well, but after Rossendale got back into the game not enough of our players showed the attitude and commitment that's needed at this time in the season.

"Rossendale could have run up a bigger scorer than the four that they got.

"There will always be tough opponents like Clitheroe and Rossendale to contend with and we need players to be up for it.

"I know conditions were difficult and the pitch is not good, but there are no excuses for a performance that was totally unacceptable.

"It's been a long two months but I've learned plenty since I got here. Now we have to get out of a losing mentality and aim to win our last two matches."

He clearly intends to make sure something is done to improve the pitch in time for next season, and is set to make some reinforcements to the squad.