Consistency will be key in Barrow's battle to stay in the Football League, according to experienced defender Sam Hird.

The former Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield player helped the club to end its lengthy wait to return to the Football League with promotion last year and now has his sights set on ensuring they do not make a swift return to non-league.

And he has identified consistency in performances as a vital component of any successful bid to stay in the division under new manager Michael Jolley.

Speaking to the club's official website, Hird said: "Being back in the football league is big for this club and the challenge now is to stay there.

“We’re not stupid, we know where we are and we know that the consistency of results needs to be better.

We are all working hard to do that; I think people could see that from the results in recent games.

“I am one of the senior players in the squad, so I just try and guide the group as do the other senior players, not to panic people but to encourage everyone to believe in themselves.

“We have a good squad, a good group of players and I think we’ve shown that and I just think we need to be more consistent and more professional.

“We have to keep the standards high day in and day out to give yourself the best possible chance of getting in the team and then doing everything possible to represent Barrow.”