Andy Dawson says togetherness is important as his side look to climb the League One table during the final seven games of the season.
Speaking to the press for the first time since taking over as caretaker manager after the departure of Stuart McCall, Dawson highlighted the important role the club’s supporters have to play.
He told iFollow Iron: “We have to get out of where we are at the moment but can only do that together. I ask everybody that’s coming - whether that’s staff, players or fans - that we approach it in a positive manner. If we get behind each other, we’ll win together and show how good we are together. We have to be positive.
“The players have shown their ability all week. From Monday, we had to really focus on the game on Saturday, how we’re going to do it, and how we’re going to get the points and information across to the players. What they’ve produced this week is really pleasing for us to see.
“The message is get as many points as we can to achieve our goal, which is staying in the league. We’ve spoke at length to the players and the staff about what that’s going to take and how we’re going to go about it. The players have taken that on board and have had a real good go at it in training. As staff, we’re really pleased with them.
“We’ve spoken at length about individual players. Throughout the week, they’ve given us questions to answer and that’s full credit to them because every single one of them has performed to their maximum ability, taken information on board, shown what they can do and produced quality during the week. It’s a good problem for us as staff to have.
“The next six weeks and seven games are all we have to focus on. There will be a process we’re working to and the results will take care of themselves. We have a changing room full of quality and ability. They’re looking forward to going out and showing what they can do on Saturday.”
Dawson is delighted assistant manager Kenny Black will remain with the club and provide important experience to the coaching staff, while he was also pleased to bring on board former Hull team-mate and ex-England international Nick Barmby as an addition to the coaching staff.
In addition, he praised the club’s backroom team, who have helped him settle into the role during the last few days.
Dawson said: “Kenny has a wealth of football knowledge, and he has loads of fantastic details to give the lads and the staff. It’s great to have him around.
“I spoke to Barmbs on Monday, after I spoke to the Chairman and Jim. He’s somebody who I’ve known for a long time, who I played with, knows the game and was a fantastic forward player. He has lots of attacking attributes and can pass great information on to our attacking players, helping them. He’s come in to help the group achieve what we need to do at the end of the season.”
He added: “The staff fantastic people, great at their jobs and have been a massive help this week in preparing what we do, what we show the players, how they learn, and we all have one goal in seven weeks.”
United take on AFC Wimbledon at Glanford Park this weekend and will be looking to return to winning ways following two successive away defeats.
He said: “We’ve watched plenty of Wimbledon matches. They’ve been on a fantastic run of form, are organised, well drilled and can hit you quickly if you’re not prepared and organised. It really is all about us though, our plan and how we can execute, and having the confidence in the ability that we have in abundance to go and do that.”
Dawson added: “Throughout 90 minutes of football, not everything goes your way. You stick to the plan, to the process and the result takes care of itself.”
The caretaker manager also paid tribute to McCall, who came in on Monday morning to say goodbye to the players.
He stated: “It was difficult for everybody at the start of Monday morning as you’d expect. (Stuart) came in and said his farewells to the lads and the staff. He’s a top man and you could see the respect everybody had for him. We wished him all the best and I’m sure with the football knowledge he’s got he’ll be back in the game before you know it.”
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