BLUEBIRDS boss Darren Edmondson is remaining positive amid AFC’s early-season struggles and insists he is still the right man to lead the club to National League success.

The Bluebirds head into tomorrow’s tough home clash with second-from-top Eastleigh sitting in a lowly 18th position having recorded two wins, four defeats and one draw so far this term (3pm kick-off).

Barrow owner and chairman Paul Casson continues to back Edmondson, but the US-based millionaire has felt it necessary to fly to England to hold a meeting with his manager tonight, while he will also be present at the Eastleigh game.

Speaking ahead of those discussions, Edmondson said: “That’s something that is natural.

“The chairman has concerns over certain things and myself and him sit down and we go through each player and discuss where everybody is at a particular point.

“They are just normal talks between a manager and a chairman. I’d obviously liked to have won a few more games, but at this moment in time, we are where we are.

“We are evolving as a football club.

“The fact that the chairman has continued to back me is neither here nor there really.

“What matters is that the football club evolves and moves in the right direction.

“I’m sure that I’m the man to do that. I believe in my own abilities and the players are responding.

“There are some issues to turn around but that’s part of an evolving football club.”

This season Barrow’s cause has not been aided by their squad being hit by injury and illness, while Edmondson’s men have produced good football at times despite their busy treatment room.

But Edmondson has also been left to rue his team’s inability to kill teams off, after going a goal ahead, and instances of sloppy defending have proved costly. Barrow surrendered the lead late on at Halifax on Monday before capitulating to a 3-1 defeat.

A win for Barrow against Halifax would have left them sitting in a respectable mid-table position.

But with only seven points in the bank – out of a maximum 21 available – it was inevitable that Edmondson and his players were going to come under some level of scrutiny following their latest on-the-road setback.

“There is always pressure in football,” added Edmondson.

“There is pressure as a player, a coach and a manager – you are always under the spotlight every week.

“But that’s the type of pressure that you’ve got to thrive on, and use it as a tool to improve yourself.

“If you can come through certain patches in your career it makes you a better person, it makes you a better footballer, manager or coach.

“You have to deal with pressure.

“Pressure in real life is dealing with cancer.

“I’m trying to help evolve a football club that’s ambitious, wants to go in the right direction and has an unbelievable fanbase that’s so passionate about their football club.

“So, no, the emotions that I’m feeling are continued excitement and positivity that we can still have a successful season.”

And Edmondson is still confident that he possesses the managerial abilities to help their club realise their ambitions.

He said: “Without doubt, I’ve got the backing of the chairman.

“Yes, fans are disgruntled at the moment, but they’ve got to continue to believe.

“As we evolve slowly the journey will at times go downwards, but then we will work hard just to make sure that we continue to go in the right direction and this football club will in time achieve their goal and be back in the Football League.

“This isn’t going to happen overnight, it’s a long process. But it’s a journey that, as I say, will have its ups and downs.

“We’ll all have to work through it together, remain positive and spirited behind the boys and back the lads – and that’s the fans as well.

“You don’t become bad players after a couple of performances.

“They are good footballers and they will help us take this club in the right direction.”