Spalding United caretaker manager Bruno Porfirio is hoping that a positive result at Loughborough Dynamo on Saturday (3pm) will enhance his chances of securing the job full-time.
Porfirio, who stepped up to replace Gaby Zakuani as Tulips chief late last month, has won one and drawn two of his four games in charge with the only losing coming against Yaxley last weekend (see page 20).
Portuguese Porfirio is keen to stay in the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field hotseat, but admits that no decision has yet been made by the club.
“The club knows that I’d like to stay as manager,” said the caretaker boss. “I’ve had conversations with the CEO and chairman and they are still deciding what is best to do.
“I think they want to see that the Yaxley defeat was just a rare bad day for the team and that we can go and do better at Loughborough this weekend.
“If we win and play well, hopefully we can talk again next week. I’d like to be manager full time, but that depends on the CEO and chairman.”
Spalding, who have slipped to 11th place in the Pitching In NPL Midlands Division and are now 11 points off the play-offs, visit a Loughborough side that are level on points with them in the table this weekend.
Porfirio is demanding that his side bounce back from the Yaxley defeat and is expecting a better level of performance across the board.
But he must do without the suspended Chris Ward and injured duo James Hugo and Liam Adams, while Josh Hinds’ loan agreement with Hull City is up at the end of the week.
Porfirio is hoping that a deal can be struck to keep Hinds at the club for a little longer, though, and is also boosted by the return of keeper Michael Duggan.
“The players know that they need to raise their level on Saturday,” added the caretaker boss. “That starts with training this week.
“We’ve had a bit of a trend this year, performing well against teams above us but losing against the sides below.
“Losing against Yaxley fits that theme, but it’s something we need to shake off.”
