SELF-BELIEF is the force which Selby Town manager Graham Hodder hopes will transfer to his ailing Selby Town charges, writes Samuel Burton.

With only five games to go in their Northern Counties East League premier division campaign and the Robins barnacled to the anchor position, Hodder remained defiant ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Armthorpe Welfare.

He said: “I won’t give up, because if I give up, the players will give up and I will not let that happen.”

For the third game running the Robins went down 4-0 at home to Nostell Minors Welfare. Manager Hodder felt the result was harsh.

“After 30 minutes we could and should have been 3-0 up, but a free-kick was put over our wall to make it 1-0 and then confidence seemed to go,” he said.

“The score was not a reflection of the game as we put in a good second-half performance.

“We’ll keep going into games positive.”

Selby blooded new goalkeeper Ciaran Gibson, a signing that has excited Hodder.

“He is a Northern Ireland under-17 international so it shows we can still attract players of his calibre,” said the Selby manager.

“It’s all about keeping the key players for next season and creating a squad who all feel like they can play in the first 11 so that’s the spirit we want to create.

“I feel it is important for us to get hold of training facilities for the winter period in order to keep the players together.

“This is something that needs to be addressed for next season.”

With the current campaign approaching its conclusion Selby know only victories in their remaining matches can give them any hope.

A defeat this weekend and a victory for Lincoln Moorlands could see the Robins all but relegated.