BARROW AFC boss Pete Wild has revealed that plans are in place to help his squad deal with the rigours of the festive period.

The Bluebirds manager will still be taking it one game at a time when it comes to focusing on the games ahead.

But he admits with games coming thick and fast at this time of year, they also need to look at the bigger picture.

He said: “I think the first thing we need to be is well organised. We need to be well organised as staff, so we know that our preparation is good.

“All of the players have got a full plan for the month, which we wouldn’t normally do.

“We’d normally just go week by week, but the monthly plan means the players know exactly what’s going on all month and they can prepare themselves on and off the pitch for what’s coming.

“Within that it’s knowing what the long-term plan is, but making sure we are focusing on each individual game and taking the challenges of each game as it comes.”

Over the space of 21 days, Wild’s men face five games against some of League Two’s leading lights.

They start this Saturday with a long trek to face Swindon Town (currently ninth in the table) at the County Ground.

That’s followed by another away day, with Crewe Alexandra’s Mornflake Stadium the destination on Friday, December 22.

Boxing Day sees the Bluebirds play host to league leaders Stockport County with a 3pm kick-off at Holker Street.

Three days later Accrington Stanley (currently 10th in League Two) are the visitors to Cumbria, while New Year’s Day sees Wild’s men head to Wales to face second-placed Wrexham.

The five-game period is brought to a close with a home clash against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, January 6.

A good return of points from those clashes would really set the Bluebirds up for a great second half of the campaign.

But Wild won’t allow himself to get caught up in ifs and buts, insisting that the game by game focus which has brought them this far remains key.

“I don’t think you can allow yourself to get too carried away,” he explained.

“When you start looking longer term then that’s when you come a cropper.

“For me you have to really focus in on each game, and really try and be the best version of us that we can be.

“And if we do all of those things then we give ourselves a fighting chance.”