CARETAKER manager Neill Hornby has urged the club's supporters to get behind the team as they search for a third permanent boss of the campaign.

Hornby was on the sidelines as a coach for the first time as the Bluebirds crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 fourth qualifying round loss at Northern Premier League Shaw Lane last weekend.

While the result and the performance cost boss manager Micky Moore his job – with Hornby installed in the interim just four days after joining the club – the fans were one positive.

Hornby hailed their backing throughout the 90 minute, while recognising their right to vent frustrations afterwards, and hopes they will continue to support the side over the coming weeks as they look to climb away from the National League relegation zone.

“I would like to put it on record to thank them for their support at Shaw Lane,” he said. “Yes, they vented their frustrations at the end – and quite rightly so, they can can do, they've paid money to watch the team and I've got no problem with that – but throughout the game, even when we were 1-0 down, they were tremendous. They travelled in their numbers as well.

“I just hope they can get behind us, get behind me, get behind the team, because we do need you. Hopefully, together as a club, we can move forwards.”

Having worked hard in training all week, Hornby hopes the Barrow players will be able to put a smile back on the faces of supporters this weekend, as they face Ebbsfleet United today.

He added: “The training, they worked very hard, believe me they worked hard. It wasn't a punishment at all – it's not my style to run players and make them run for the sake of running. There was a lot of ball work and there was running involved, but there was a lot of ball work. They worked hard, they worked very, very hard.

“They are determined to put things right and put a smile on the faces of the the supporters, who travelled in their numbers to Shaw Lane. It wasn't good enough.”