I’m right man for job - Dickov

Paul Dickov - changes to his backroom team

EMBATTLED Athletic boss Paul Dickov says he has the backing of the club's board to turn around a miserable set of recent results.

Though the overall effort against Crewe was bright, as it had been on Boxing Day against Doncaster, both home games ended in 2-1 defeats.

In npower League One, Athletic have now fallen to four straight losses — taking the unwanted tally to nine in the last 13.

After holding a post-match discussion with board members including chairman Simon Corney on Saturday, Dickov is maintaining a positive outlook.

"I have a lot of faith in the squad," said the manager, who takes his team to second-bottom Scunthorpe tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

"Everyone is disappointed, but if you sit back and look at the performance levels put in against Doncaster and Crewe you see we are not far away.

"I have been (to see) the board and they have faith in me. They said they believe I am the right man to take them forward and I believe that as well.

"It will come. In the majority of the last two games, performance levels have been really high.

"The supporters are disappointed and want to see the team winning. But deep down, a lot of them will have seen that we are not far away.

"Everybody is gutted, nobody more so than me."

The return of Jean-Yves Mvoto and Robbie Simpson after suspension gives Dickov a boost ahead of the trip to Glanford Park. Up front, striker Dan Taylor is pushing for inclusion after netting in impressive fashion in the Crewe defeat as a substitute.

Scunthorpe have only one home win in the league all season.

And Dickov believes that defender Cliff Byrne, who spent nine years with the Iron, will be desperate to see that their poor run continues in to the New Year.

"I am sure he will get a good reception," Dickov added. "But knowing Cliff as I do, he will want to go there and get a victory.

"It will be a tough game and they are scrapping for their lives. But so are we.

"I believe we have got good players here. I believe we are not far away and that it might take one little thing for us to turn the corner and set us going again."

DEAN Furman is celebrating after securing his place in South Africa's 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations.

While Athletic have been trying to establish whether captain Furman will be allowed to take part in the FA Cup third-round tie at Nottingham Forest on Saturday before linking up with South Africa, coach Gordon Igesund's comments at yesterday's announcement suggest he will be on his way straight after the Scunthorpe game.