Backing for Hunt after Rovers defeat (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Backing for Hunt after Rovers defeat

5:38pm Wednesday 27th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

SWIFTS manager Neil Hunt has been reassured of his job by the chairman, despite a 2-1 defeat at local rivals Bromsgrove Rovers on Tuesday, writes Adam Church-Millward.

The Swifts have now lost six of their last seven games, and Hunt is adamant that a lack of confidence is the major factor.

He said: “At the moment, confidence is really low.

“I don’t feel under any pressure, and I honestly feel that if I could do better with the squad I have got, I would come out and say it.

“I said to Chris [Reynolds, Chairman of Stourport Swifts] that if he wants to change it, then go ahead.

“If you aren’t getting the results in, you can’t rule anything out.

“He [Reynolds] has said that he is behind me 100 per cent.

“I’m disappointed with the result, but we have to take the way we played on Tuesday for the last 20 minutes and work on it.”

Chris Cornes scored against Bromsgrove for Swifts, who were 2-0 down at half time. A sending off for Bromsgrove and late pressure from Hunt’s men led to a tense last 10 minutes, but Swifts couldn’t find an equaliser.

Hunt explained: “For 55 minutes, we didn’t compete. I’m very disappointed overall, and Bromsgrove deserved the win.”

Swifts turned up the pressure after the sending off of Dexter Ravenhill for Bromsgrove.

Hunt said: “I don’t understand why we need a reaction like that before we start playing. After the sending off, we looked good, but couldn’t put away our chances.”

In regards to the sending off, Hunt feels that the young Bromsgrove midfielder Ravenhill can feel hard done by.

He explained: “You could tell by the reactions of both sets of players that it was a harsh decision.

“He did raise his hand, but none of our players expected it. The referee wouldn’t let the game flow throughout, and that was a real shame.”

In an otherwise poor match for the Stourport Swifts, keeper Paul Evans and striker Chris Cornes impressed Hunt, who said: “Paul had a brilliant game. He has been vying for the number one jersey all season, and performances like that warrant his place in the starting eleven.”

Talking about Cornes, he said: “Chris is fantastic. Sometimes it feels as though we have just him in our starting line-up, and that’s it.”

Explaining how he intends to address the problems, Hunt said: “We simply have to pick ourselves up, wipe off the dust and turn it around.

Prior to the Bromsgrove game, Swifts were beaten 4-1 at home by Slough Town. Hunt said: “The 4-1 result wasn’t justified. We played alot better than the scoreline suggests, but unfortunately this is what everyone sees.”

Up next for Stourport is a trip to Northamptonshire on Saturday (3pm) where they face Rothwell FC, a side who sit proudly in mid-table of the Zamaretto League.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)