Pritch calls for Witton fans' support (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion manager Brian Pritchard issues rallying call to fans ahead of Worksop Town match

1:03pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

BRIAN Pritchard has admitted frustration at the reaction of some Witton supporters to Danny Meadowcroft’s departure only a month after he signed for the club.

The defender returned to Colwyn Bay, the team he left to join Witton, earlier this week although he says football was not a motive for his move back to Wales.

“I’m very disappointed with some of the comments I’ve read,” said Pritchard.

“Some of them are just plain wrong, and also unfair to the player and the football club.

“It is not necessarily true that a signing is a bad one if a player stays only a few weeks. I’ll hold up my hands if I make a mistake, which I have done already this season.

“I don’t like the undertones of one or two things that have been said and written, some of which I find absolutely amazing considering where we are in the table.”

He has called on all Albion fans to unite behind his in-form players as they prepare to host fellow play-offs hopefuls Worksop Town tomorrow, Saturday.

Witton start the match in fourth place following a 3-1 win at Ashton on Wednesday, a victory that extends their unbeaten run in the Premier Division to five games.

Pritchard said: “I want the fans’ support and help. They need to get behind us at home in the same way that they do when we play away.

“Let’s stick together.

“We’ve got 11 league games left; who would have thought we’d start that run where we are now?

“It’s important that expectation is managed carefully, but be under no illusion that the players want to win every football match they play in to finish as high up the table as they possibly can.

“We’ve been through a sticky patch, but are mentally stronger for it. I don’t think we’ll struggle like that again before the end of the season.”

The test now is to improve a home record that has yielded only six wins from 15 games this season.

Only one of those victories was against a team in the table’s top half.

Pritchard added: “We do need to improve our home form.

“It’s clear from recent games though – against FC United in the league cup and Hednesford last weekend – that we are doing that already.

“Winning at Ashton in midweek was a great result, but it will mean less if we don’t follow that up by beating Worksop.”

To read a preview of tomorrow's game, click here: http://bit.ly/X25GeR