PAUL Casson felt he had no choice in effectively handing Darren Edmondson a one-month trial to keep his job – but he hopes the Bluebirds boss passes the test with flying colours and remains in the role.

The Barrow owner intends to make a final decision as to whether Edmondson will keep his job following the home clash with Woking on November 28. 

Casson has made the move following Barrow's dismal 1-0 FA Cup fourth-qualifying round defeat at their old Conference North title rivals Fylde.

AFC have endured a roller coaster of a season – claiming excellent wins, such as their 1-0 National League victories against Eastleigh and Tranmere, while they have suffered defeats against the likes of lowly Altrincham (1-0, October 3).

Their worst loss of the campaign arrived at Bromley where they were hammered 5-0 on October 10.

Just last week Casson insisted that Edmondson will still be Barrow's boss in May. 

But Casson said: “The performance on Saturday was so poor that the normal platitudes just won’t suffice.

“We’ve had private conversations before, particularly after the Bromley and Altrincham games and I was assured that the turnaround – particularly in terms of entertainment and goals – was just around the corner and it hasn’t happened."

While Edmondson led Barrow to the Conference North title last term, Casson has cranked up the pressure on him 18 games into the club's first season back in non-league’s top flight.

This season their average league record reads: Won seven, lost seven and drawn four. But despite their inconsistency and the fact they sit 15th in the table they are only five points adrift of the final play-off place.

Casson added: “We’re five points off the play-offs but we’re 15th and my point would be that given the games that we’ve played and the opportunities that we’ve squandered, we should be a lot closer than five points off the play-offs.

“By the end of November half the season will basically be over and I desperately don’t want to give up on this season.”

Casson has held concerns for a while and he showed his ruthless streak earlier this season when he showed coach Paul Murray the exit door. Edmondson’s former Carlisle team-mate only joined the club in the summer.

Casson said: “People don’t like change, that’s just a psychological characteristic of human beings.

“And we’ve talked to him this season about changing, about attacking attractive football and being more aggressive and bold. 

"It’s one of the reasons that Paul Murray was let go because we thought that he was perhaps dragging him back in that particular area.

“So that’s what I want, and we talked and talked and talked and I’m through talking.

“And so basically the only way I know to perhaps get his attention is to put him on notice.

“Honestly, I hope he turns it around – it’s not a gimmick. 

"I sincerely hope that he turns it around, I do not want to change the manager. But I can’t put up with what’s being served up before the fans at the moment.

“For me, it’s a sad day that I have to do this because normally in a football club, you’d like to do this behind closed doors and in private.

“We’ve done that on at least two occasions and I’m getting nowhere.”