Neil Kitching admits pressure is mounting as Stafford Rangers’ winless run continues

Rangers are now without a victory in their last eight Northern One West matches and suffered a fifth consecutive defeat with a 3-0 thrashing at Avro.

The Boro have picked up just two points since the start of November and now sit precariously just outside the relegation zone.  

Asked whether he is feeling the pressure, Kitching said: “Of course, that is the game, that’s management. 

“It’s a result driven business, I want to win every week and we are losing every week. That is not a nice feeling.

“Why wouldn’t I feel the pressure? I put pressure on myself to win football matches and that is not happening.

“The players should as well, we should all feel a bit of pressure. The pressure should be that this is a club that wants to be striving to be winning most weeks and at the top end of the table, rather than getting dragged into trouble at the bottom end.

“There is pressure for everybody and most of that falls on me, I am the manager, I am responsible for bringing players in, for picking the team, and ultimately for results, and at the moment results aren’t great.

“But, I stand by what I have said in recent weeks. It will turn at some point and we will get a result. Something will go for us, a little bit of luck, and it kickstarts things.

“You get a bit of confidence and we will get a result somewhere, and you hopefully go on a run. But, that needs to happen very quickly because nobody likes losing and I certainly don’t.”

Kitching signed a three-year deal at the club in May, committing him to Stafford until the end of the 2027/28 season.

He rejoined Rangers in January with the club in a similar position and led them comfortably clear of danger thanks to an impressive run of form.

Stafford have conceded 22 goals in their last eight league games and host Staffordshire rivals Chasetown on Boxing Day.

Kitching added: “We have had a tough run of fixtures and people will say you have to play everybody in the division and that is fair enough. 

“We have a local derby against Chasetown, we will regroup, train, and we will go and try to get a result on Boxing Day and have a nice trip to Nantwich on New Year.

“We will keep battling and scrapping, and try to get a result as quickly as we can.”