Stirling Albion have urged everyone to stick together after last Saturday’s defeat at Elgin saw them slump to eighth in cinch League Two.
The Binos are closer to the bottom than the top four, having been second at the end of October, and the fans are unhappy at the prospect of another season without a promotion play-off.
This week the club issued a joint statement from the board and manager Darren Young which said: “We are very conscious of supporters’ concern and frustration at the league position we find ourselves in and wish to provide the assurance that everyone at the club is united in working together to do everything in our power to deliver the desired outcomes, on the pitch, to ensure we can look up and not down.
“The latest injury blow in respect of Ray Grant doesn’t help and added to that we have been hit with a couple of Covid-related absences for the week ahead.
“Fortunately, neither of them has any wider implications for the rest of the squad.
“We are equally conscious that actions speak far louder than words and would ask everyone to get behind the players on matchdays and give them the encouragement and support to deliver.”
The statement went on: “We have decided that the ‘Meet the Fans’ session on Wednesday, March 9 will be extended to include the manager to provide the opportunity for fans to pose questions to him, in addition to the club board.”
Stirling Albion have a home double header coming up as they look for their first league win at Forthbank since the end of September.
They host local rivals Stenhousemuir tomorrow and face bottom club Cowdenbeath in a rearranged fixture on Tuesday night after the original match was postponed on Saturday, February 5.
Stirling have won just one of their last 16 matches and go into the weekend on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Elgin City, which saw them slip to eighth place in the standings.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Jordan McGregor is suspended for the visit of the Warriors after his red card at Elgin and fellow centre-half Adam Cummins remains out with an ankle injury. Aaron Dunsmore, who can play in defence or midfield, could come into contention following his loan move from East Fife.
Boss Young said: “If we could win those two home games we could maybe jump up two or three positions and you are not so far away from the play-offs again but we need to get the points on the board.
“We are at the business end of the season and players are playing for contracts. For me, there has been no lack of effort but it’s maybe just been a lack of concentration at times and we haven’t managed to get a settled team and formation because of injuries and the like.
“The first half at Elgin last week was very poor and the goals we lost were not acceptable, but the players showed a good reaction in the second half when we were down to 10 men.
“We’ve brought in Aaron Dunsmore this week and that will give us another option – he is a player I obviously know from East Fife .”
Stirling have twice beaten Stenhousemuir at Ochilview this season but Stephen Swift’s side ran out 3-1 winners on their last visit to Forthbank in November. The Warriors drew 1-1 with Edinburgh City on Wednesday night to remain within three points of the play-offs.
