BARROW boss Pete Wild says the club must continue to strive to be a huge part of the local community.

The Bluebirds are giving Barrovians reasons to be cheerful on the pitch this season, having climbed into second place in the League Two table at the weekend.

A 3-0 win over Swindon Town saw Barrow leapfrog Wrexham on goal difference.

Of course, football is a results business and Wild is certainly well aware of that, but the Bluebirds boss believes the club have a duty to make sure they excel off the pitch as well as on it.

He said: “I think any sports club should be at the heart of the community.

“And if they are not at the heart of the community, they are doing something wrong.

“I think when we came here there was a detachment between the community and the football club.

“One of the big roles that I have asked the players and the staff to do off the pitch is to realign the football club and the community.

“I think we have done that so far, but we’ve got lots more we can do and lots more that we want to do.

“We are here to entertain the community and to be a hub for the community. Hopefully we are doing that and hopefully people can see we are trying to do that and the more we can do that the better.”

As part of their work within the community Wild and Bluey the Bluebird – the Barrow AFC mascot – visited young patients on the children’s ward at Furness General Hospital.

The pair gave out gifts to the children and Wild took time out to speak to the parents of some of the poorly youngsters.

It something Wild is keen to build on and he has spoken to hospital bosses to see what more can be done to build on the club’s relationship with the hospital.

Back to footballing matters, the Bluebirds are back on their travels this Friday evening.

They face Crewe Alexandra at the Mornflake Stadium in a 7:45pm kick-off.

The Railwaymen are just three points behind the Cumbrians and currently sit fifth in League Two.

Crewe shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller with Accrington Stanley at the weekend.