Phil Brown has underlined his call for maximum “commitment” from players if Barrow AFC are to improve on this season’s survival fight.

The Bluebirds are preparing for their last game of the campaign after a long battle against the drop.

Brown, who replaced Mark Cooper late in the season, has overseen survival and AFC will hope to sign off on a positive note against Northampton Town this weekend.

But the manager, whose future beyond this season is yet to be confirmed, says that only by showing a full determination to succeed will the Bluebirds be able to build on this season’s efforts.

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Swindon Town last weekend, Brown said: “223 [travelling fans] have come to turn out at an end of season game where the management’s changed and there’s a little bit of passion in the performance.

“I want more than passion from the players – I want better football, I want everything, and then there’ll be 2,023 in that stand to see a winning team.

“I’ve said to the players, the last time I was in that changing room [as Swindon manager] I went toe to toe with a player, and after the game we mutually ripped his contract up.

“He said he couldn’t do what I was asking him to do. All I’m saying to him is to put his head into the six-yard box. And he didn’t do it twice and we conceded twice because of it and lost the game. He got in his mum and dad’s car and played for somebody else.

“I’ve said to them – I’ll rip your contracts up if you want me to. I just want commitment, and commitment is many different guises, not just running stats, passing stats, putting your foot in.

“It’s many different guises that cause the atmosphere of a winning team.”

Barrow can have a say in the promotion race on Saturday with a number of clubs jockeying for position at the right end of League Two.

Visitors Northampton sit third on goal difference – meaning they could miss out if Barrow take points off them.

The Bluebirds have faced two high-flying sides in recent games in Exeter and Swindon.

Brown, speaking on the club’s iFollow service, says he wants to be involved in the sort of celebrations opposition sides have been enjoying against his side.

“To see it and not be part of it – I want a little bit of that next season, whether that’s at Barrow or anywhere else,” he said.

“Where these players are concerned, they sometimes look at me as if I’m a madman in the changing room because of what I’m demanding of them.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have to cross the white line – they have to demand it of each other.

“If we get enough of that next year we’ll have a chance.”