TONY Sullivan, Witton Albion’s manager, will tell his players to keep calm ahead of this weekend’s encounter with Ramsbottom United.

Even if his side picks up maximum points, they will remain in the relegation zone.

“There’s no need to hit the panic button,” he said.

“We’ve 14 matches left – more than a quarter of the season – and what happens to us is in our own hands. That’s what we’d ask for.

“We’re not labelling games as ‘must-win’, because we believe we can collect points each time we play.

“We’ve a target, and that’s not changed.

“It won’t be any different at full time tomorrow either.”

Albion recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Barwell at Wincham Park last weekend, scoring twice in seven second-half minutes to rescue a point.

The 40-year-old admits his side can ill-afford another slow start.

“We can’t be caught cold,” he said.

“It’s time for some players to justify their position, to perform in a way we know they can.

“I’ve taken a bit of flak in the past couple of weeks, and I don’t think it’s warranted.

“A lot has happened on and off the pitch since I came to Witton, and I’ve worked hard to make sure things are as they should be in the dressing room in terms of getting in the right type of player and making tough decisions about others.”

He has this week reached an agreement with Accrington Stanley to extend the loan of defender Liam Goulding until the end of the season.

Front man Malachi Lavelle-Moore has arrived at Wincham Park from Cheshire neighbours Macclesfield Town for an initial month too.

His signing follows four others last week.

Meanwhile Sullivan is hoping one of that quartet, Andy Fowler, can have the same impact on his side’s fortunes as Alex Titchiner did last season.

The forward, picked by supporters of Northwich Victoria as their player of the year in 2011, signed last Friday from Droylsden.

His brief is to strengthen the attack of a team that had managed to score only three goals in five league games before last weekend’s draw with Barwell.

Titchiner, who arrived at a similar stage of last term, netted eight times to help Witton climb from the table’s bottom four.

“That’s what I believe Fowler can do for us,” said the Albion boss.

“He can be a catalyst.

“Andy has quality, and can play in a number of positions. We’ll use him in those too.”

Fowler, 28, left the field on a stretcher before the break on his debut.

However the injury, sustained in a hefty challenge from a Barwell defender, is not as serious as first feared.