THEIR situation may be getting increasingly desperate, but 1874 Northwich’s players are being told to “stand up and fight.”

Greens are rooted firmly to the bottom of the Northern Premier League West Division table and are looking for their third permanent manager of the season following the departure of Damian Crossley after 10 winless games in charge.

That formed part of a wider run of 15 league matches without success stretching all the way back to October, with last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Trafford leaving them 10 points from safety.

Senior players Matt Woolley and Mark Jones are back in caretaker charge, and the former is calling on the players to respond when City of Liverpool visit Townfield on Saturday.

“It was a disappointing result (Trafford) – no hiding from that,” he told 1874’s official website.

“We knew it was a game we had to perform in.”

“Two weeks ago we played Mossley and we were together, committed and everyone gave 100 per cent – as a 74 fan, that has to be the minimum you expect to see and we will make sure that’s the case come 3pm on Saturday.”

One of Greens’ four league victories this season came against Saturday’s visitors back in September – a 2-1 win that came shortly after a 3-1 FA Trophy defeat to the same opposition.

And Woolley is calling on the players to show that they have not yet resigned themselves to their fate.

“They are a very good side – I expect them to be hard working and committed with some real attacking threat,” he said.

“It will be important we look to make life difficult for them but at the same time use our strengths to cause them problems.”

“We are all aware its been a challenging season but its not over.

“It is in these situations, you see who stands up and is willing to fight and see the true character of an individual.”