Wigan Robin Park Chairman and Manager John Neafcy is rueing a bad run of injuries that he feels has had a major impact on his side's form in recent weeks.
The Robins had been handily placed in the promotion chase before Christmas, but a run of poor results has seen them drop into mid table, a position which John readily admits is not where he hoped or expected to be as the season heads towards its climax.
"We've underachieved this season, as we wanted promotion this year. The way we set our stall out last year, we thought if we finished in the top seven we would have done well, so we were made up to finish fifth, although we went out of the cup competitions early.
"This season it's been the other way round really, we've done well in cups but not so well in the league. The main reason for that coming back after the enforced winter break we've had horrendous luck with injuries, and that's been hard to deal with and it's why we have struggled a bit in recent weeks.
"We've had seven or eight players out and when you haven't got strength in depth, you'll struggle. That was proved in the games against Ashton Town and Barnoldswick, as they wouldn't have beaten us by those scores if we had been at full strength. As a result we are underachieving in the league, and it will be about here or four weeks before we've got everyone back. The strength in depth of the squad is something we've got to look at now, and we are doing".
None the less, for a club that was only formed in 2005, to be established where they are in only their second season in the Vodkat League is good going, and John admits that everyone at the club is generally happy with the way the club has developed so far.
"We've exceeded our expectations to be honest. Starting out in 2005 and then within the first five years going through the Manchester League and achieving Vodkat League status has been fantastic for us, it's beyond what we would have dreamed of.
"It's been hard work to get there, although it's not been a struggle because we've been well organised and confident in what we've been doing. Robin Park Arena have been great with us, although we don't get any special treatment and have to keep paying our way.
"We train here at the all weather pitch on Mondays and Wednesdays, and obviously can use the facilities for Sportsmans Dinners and the like which is great, but we still have to generate the finance to pay for it all.
"The pitch here is a good one, and Wigan Athletic's reserves play on it too, so you'd expect it to be good. It's great for us as we like to play football, but sometimes it does backfire on us, because at times we've played teams that played a long ball game when we played them at their place and then they played a bit differently when they came here.
"The facilities do help us to attract players though. Once they come down and see the facilities they often decide that they want to stay here and play for us. There are a number of teams in this area who we are competing with for players, but there is a big enough pool of players in this area to go round. It's all about people coming down to have a look at us, because when they come down they don't often go away. They come down and train with the lads, and when they have done that and met the staff and had a look at the facilities, they want to sign".
It's pretty unusual at any level of football to find someone combining the role of Chairman and Manager like John does, and while he doesn't have to worry about getting a vote of confidence from the Chairman after the recent poor run of results, he does admit that combining the two jobs is difficult at times.
"There are times when combining the two does give me massive problems. I've got a fantastic wife who knows I love my football and she is very understanding. But she does get cheesed off at times because she is not a football lover and it's difficult for her to take on board, but she gives me all the support I need.
"I can combine the two jobs but I want to take the pressure off myself. I really wish I could get another three or four committee members, if I could that would make my life a lot more comfortable. But we can't seem to get people interested which I can't understand. We're a young club going forward, but we just can't get more people on board".
Putting the manager's hat back on, John is still upbeat about his team's prospects for the rest of the season.
"I still think we're capable of upsetting teams who are pushing for a promotion place. It's a good league this season, and I love competing in it because you just can't underestimate anybody. You'd never have thought before Christmas for example that AFC Blackpool would be where they are now. When you see teams going on runs like that or losing a few, you begin to wonder who have they got playing for them, or what players have they lost.
"I think if we could finish in the top five again and get further in one of the cup competitions, especially the Division One Trophy, which I think we are capable of winning, that would be a good season for us and I'd be happy with that.
"The cup ties we have are good ones to look forward to. The lads are buzzing about the game on Tuesday against St Helens Town (in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final), it's a bit of a local derby and they have a few players who used to play for us, so we're really looking forward to that.
"In the Division One Trophy we've got a home tie against AFC Liverpool and that is going to be interesting too. Every time we've played them they have been good games, they have been close. We were the first team to beat them at their place last season, which was fantastic for us in front of a big crowd, and they came here and won in the return game.
"This season they beat us here again, but if we can get a few of our missing players back for that quarter final tie, I think we've got a real chance of progressing further in the competition and who knows, maybe going on to win it".
