Scunthorpe chief 'confident'

Scunthorpe chairman Peter Swann remains confident the club will retain its League One status this season.

Manager Mark Robins had lifted the club to within touching distance of the play-off places after replacing Russ Wilcox in October, but after failing to win any of their last seven matches, the Iron have slipped to within one point of the relegation zone. Swann said in a statement on the club's official website: "The management and players' attitude is excellent and they will ensure we get through these remaining games and consolidate our position in this league. "Our aim at this club is to get some consistency both on and off the field and with that want, we must have patience. "I have begun to change the way we do things here at the club and I have done that with the future in mind, so on the field we just need to knuckle down to the basics and grind out a few results and this team will do that." Scunthorpe hope work will begin on their new £18million-stadium at the Lincolnshire Lakes site next month with a view to completion 12 months later and Swann recently appointed former Notts County chief executive officer Jim Rodwell. Swann added: "This period in our history gives us the opportunity to ensure we have a thriving and successful football club which not only has ambition on the pitch, but a new business ethic off of it. "Everybody will be nervous, it's human nature, whether that is due to results or the move to a new home, but we expect every one of us to give 100 per cent and if we do, we will succeed. "I truly believe we have the players, management, staff and fans to help us do this, so let's get it done!"