Hereford United boss Jamie Pitman has vowed not to quit the club after watching his side suffer a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Gillingham last weekend.
The Bulls boss believes both he and his squad can overcome their poor start to the season, which sees them in the League Two relegation places, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cheltenham.
But Pitman admits that there will be question marks over his future after what was Hereford’s heaviest defeat since returning to the Football League.
“One thing I am not is a quitter,” said Pitman. “I won’t quit but if that is what they (the directors) decide then that is up to them.
“If they think that is the best for the football club than that is fine, I will accept that decision. But I am not going to give in – you should know that I wasn’t a quitter as a player and I am not as a person, so it is up to them to decide that as it is out of my hands.”
Hereford had actually made a bright start to the game but the visitors stunned the home faithful with two goals in five minutes through West Ham loanee Frank Nouble and a Garry Richards header.
Two more came either side of half-time through a Joe Heath own goal and Danny Jackman’s 25-yard effort.
Hereford’s misery was added to when Rob Purdie missed a golden chance to give them hope by seeing his spot kick saved.
And Chris Whelpdale and Stefan Payne made him pay by adding the fifth and sixth for the Gills before Sam Winnall pulled back a late consolation.
“It was a bit of a strange game,” added Pitman.
“We started brightly and created good opportunities to do something better than we did.
“Then we find ourselves 6-0 down which is very frustrating obviously.
“I’ve gone with a bit of youthfulness but decisions are good or bad in hindsight and that is something you have to live with and I will.
“When you have a good spell and have opportunities you have got to take your chances as well – it’s a knock-on effect and a catch 22 situation and if you don’t take the chances you are always going to come under pressure.”
And Pitman believes his side is capable of climbing away from the league Tdanger zone.
He added: “We turned it round last year and we’re going to try and turn it around this year.
“Everyone has got to have a little bit of a reality check.
“The budget’s not the biggest in the league and I’m trying to work with that.
“We’ve missed Stefan Stam, he was influential for us last season.
“These lads have tried their hardest and that’s all I can ask.
“We had seven centre halves we were trying to get in over the course of the week and none of them wanted to come.
“All you can do is go with the ones you’ve got and believe that they’re capable of getting you out of trouble. They did last year and I’m sure they will this year.
And Pitman was given sympathy by his opposite number at Gillingham, Andy Hessenthaler, who said: “Being a manager and knowing Jamie as I do, he’s a hard worker and it’s a tough day for them.”
The Bulls have allowed defender Janos Kovacs to join Blue Square Premier League side Luton Town on a one month loan deal.