Non-league / Editor / 27 September 2007 /

Legendary manager Frank Gregan tells us about picking yourself up after hitting rock bottom and why Halifax have every chance tonight

One of the hardest jobs a manager has is to lift his side after a defeat. It is when the manager really earns his corn, because however disheartened his players are feeling, the manager will be hurting much, much more. Still, it goes with the territory and one of the most fundamental assets a football team needs in order to be able to perform is confidence. That confidence comes from a number of facets, primarily solid performances on the field but when the results aren't coming and the performances are lacking, it's time for a large bout of inspiration. On the back of four successive defeats it is starting to get desperate - cue the manager with the Churchillian diatribe!

York City found themselves in that dire situation last Saturday. They went into their game at Grays on the back of four successive defeats. They had only taken one point at home this season and that was against fellow strugglers Altrincham and prior to Saturday had only one win on the board. The "we shall fight them on the beaches" rallying cry seems to have done the trick. They left Grays with a 2-0 win.

Manager Billy McEwan is still under huge pressure and he will be desperate for some further relief on Thursday. It is the worst feeling in the world, despite everything that is said publicly by managers in this situation, a positivistic mental approach is virtually impossible to achieve. The self doubt is massive and the fear of failure is truly haunting . It is vital that the manager does not transmit those doubts and fears to the players, so a bright facade will be on show in the York dressing room on Thursday night. The team talk will be inspirational and positive, Saturdays' great result will be a popular topic and the only negative comments will be about the opposition. If they win they will have taken 6 points in 5 days, more than doubling their tally for the season thus far.

This is a huge game for Billy McEwan and I would love to see him continue to turn it around and get a result. Sadly, I think it is highly unlikely because in this situation experience tells me you tend to take one step forward followed by two steps back. It is for that reason I think Halifax are the bet of the week. They produced the goods last time they were live on the box winning at Stafford who are also in the mire.

I've been in a few dressing rooms in my time in crisis situations and knowing that the dreaded vote of confidence was looming. I remember a full back saying to me when I was berating him at half-time for not stopping crosses "you can shout as loud as you like but that winger is a yard quicker than me!" That is the harsh reality of the game. No matter what is said in the York dressing room prior to the game, no matter how inspirational, I think we will see that actions speak louder than words. Any price in excess of 3.0 for a Halifax win represents outstanding value.

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