Chairman wants good showing

Chairman Peter Swann has issued a rallying cry to everyone involved at Scunthorpe ahead of Tuesday night's clash with Coventry.

The Iron have slipped to second from bottom in the table following away defeats at Bristol City and Chesterfield and, although conceding injury problems have hampered their progress, Swann insists the time has come for everyone to step up to the plate. "After getting a week away to regenerate my batteries, I come back to a couple of poor results and a very disappointing performance in the second half at Chesterfield," said Swann in a statement posted on the club's official website. "It is sometimes difficult to know what to say at times and, I must admit, this caught me out. To play poorly is an excuse, but to play and lose with a whimper, is not acceptable. "These are professional players and management and this is what they do for a living and as a club, we pay for a certain standard from them. A sweeping statement, but one where the 'collective' take the responsibility and the individuals need to step up to the plate, not in a couple of weeks, but now. "I haven't spent money and time to improve the club to take a step back now, it will not happen, I will not let it happen. Injuries have been rife, but I believe this group of players are good enough to do the job required of them. "They are excellent players who have shown they can do it, supported by a management team who give nothing less than 100 per cent. If it's a blip, prove it!"