'I’m Struggling' - Rowe seeks lift as Sporting Khalsa in unfamiliar territory
Sporting Khalsa boss Ian Rowe admits he is "struggling" with life at the bottom, but remains confident fortunes will change.
Khalsa sit 19th in the Northern One West - a position that is unfamiliar to boss Rowe during his lengthy spell at the club.
Winless in their last nine league matches, Khalsa host early play-off contenders Runcorn Linnets tomorrow, who they were thrashed 4-1 by in October.
"We are in a precarious position, one that I am not used to in the past 11 years, every year we have been challenging at the top end," said boss Rowe.
"We knew it would be challenging, we retained four players in the summer due to the league change and had to rebuild. We have a lot of young talented footballers, but they are very naive.
"At the moment it is important that we keep morale and keep people positive. I am struggling with that myself, I am not going to lie.
"It is the first time in my management career that I have been involved with a team at the bottom rather than the top. So there is a bit of a mentality shift as well.
"But, I know it sounds crazy, we are not a million miles away, we just need a little upturn in luck and fortune. Then, hopefully, we can turn it around.
"It's a tough game at the weekend. In my belief, Runcorn are the best side we have faced this season. They beat us hands down, so it is an opportunity to try and avenge that.
"It will be tough, but at home I would like to think we are a match for anybody. We need to start winning games."
Khalsa sit two points adrift of safety with four wins from 21 matches, but Rowe insists he is not panicking yet.
He added: "We are not detached at the moment, we are only two or three wins away from catching sides above.
"Three or four games in and it stays the same, then we are going to find ourselves detached, so we do need to start picking up wins and soon."
Meanwhile, fellow strugglers Darlaston Town visit Vauxhall Motors looking to end a six-game winless run. Stafford Rangers travel to Stalybridge Celtic while Chasetown host basement side Trafford looking for their third win in a row.
In the Northern One Midlands, sixth-placed Lichfield City entertain Corby Town of a place above, looking to stretch their unbeaten run to four league games.
