Matt Easton hopes to return to the Spalding United fold in some capacity this weekend as their bid for survival in Evo-Stik NPL East Division continues.
The Tulips make the trip to relegation rivals Pickering Town (3pm) this weekend in the precarious position of 18th, two points clear of the drop zone having played a game more than Carlton Town in 19th.
Boss Easton, who has missed the past few weeks after being hospitalised due to illness, is adamant that his side need to get something from the game at 16th-placed Pickering.
With five games left, he feels “a couple” of wins would see the Tulips safe, but admits that the aim is simply not to lose at this stage of the season.
Assistant manager Lewis Thorogood is expected to remain in charge of the team, but Easton hopes to have some involvement at Mill Lane.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be back in the dugout,” said Easton, who watched last weekend’s 2-1 loss against Ossett from the stands. “I didn’t get involved at all last weekend, but I certainly will be back in some capacity from now on.
“I think that we’ve lost games that we should have taken something from in recent weeks.
“We shouldn’t have lost to Stocksbridge for sure, but I do think the Ossett result was about right.
“We really need to go to Pickering and get something this Saturday and the same goes for Loughborough the following week.
“We’ve got to be looking at four points from these two games, which would be a big boost.
“At this stage it’s all about results and not getting beat. It doesn’t have to be fancy, we just need to start picking up results.
“We’re in a tough situation at the moment and the players have been beyond loyal. Hopefully we’ll have a full squad at Pickering and we’ll come away with at least a point.
“We still believe we can stay up.”
Key striker Brad Wells left the Tulips for Hednesford Town at the back end of last week, but everyone else should be available for the clash in North Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Spalding are looking for a new secretary ahead of the 2019/20 season after Louise Maplethorpe announced her intention to step down at the end of the current campaign.
Vice Chairman Chris Maplethorpe has also left his position at the Sir Halley.
