GREAT Harwood chairman Bill Holden is backing manager Denis Underwood to save his side from the drop.

The club are currently bottom of the NWCL Division One and criticism has been levelled at the Harwood boss - especially from one fan who wrote into the Lancashire Evening Telegraph wanting Underwood's dismissal.

But Holden says it won't happen, and if anyone has any grievances he is the man who will answer them.

"At the end of the day the buck stops with me. If anyone has anything to say then they should come and say it to me, not write letters to the paper," said Holden.

"I am big enough to take it. I know they pay their money and they have every right to say what they think.

"I just wish there were 10,000 fans like him who cared so much about the club and then my job would be easy! They would all be paying through the gate and there would be no problems.

"But at times like this we should pull together. Even if they don't agree with Denis as manager, he is the manager and if they support Harwood they should stand by the club whoever is in charge.

He continued: "Both Denis and I are upbeat characters and we have 48 points to play for.

"We were in this position this time last season and we came through. We have sides around us to play and we can do it with Denis. The players have a lot of faith in him and vice versa.

"No one is more frustrated than me and Denis. We are desperate to put it right."

It has not been easy for Harwood in the six years since Holden became chairman at the club. There has been a relegation from the UniBond First Division and constant battles against the drop again.

But this doesn't make the chairman want to give up. In fact it makes him more determined to see the job through - especially as he has seen such a lot.

"We have had to spend a lot of money on our ground, that is where we have been forced to spend our money over the past ten years," explained Holden.

"We had to spend £14,000 on ground improvements to qualify for the UniBond First Division when we went up in place of leaders Ashton who couldn't go up - and fight off the UniBond when they wanted us to build an all-seater stadium.

"Then we have had to spend £11,000 on the ground to bring it to NWCL Division One standards so the money hasn't been available on the playing side.

"We are battling under constraints but we don't owe the bank a penny. What comes in goes out.

"It is amazing what some of the NWCL Division One top sides and UniBond First Division sides spend on players - paying £5,000 for a striker and the wages.

"We can't compete but, although we don't make a lot, there is no chance we will go bankrupt."

That happened in 1978 and Holden won't let it happen again at the Showground.

"'Great Harwood' folded in 1978 when it was in Northern Premier League," said Holden. "They rebuilt with the name 'Great Harwood Town' and rejoined the Lancashire Combination.

"People forget that in the past 25 years, Great Harwood have only actually won one thing - when we were promoted from the NWCL Division Two. We went up into the UniBond because Ashton United couldn't go up.

"Even at our peak we were only getting 200 to 250 supporters.

"And we are a smaller place than the likes of Nelson, Bacup, Colne who are in the second division.

"We have had good sponsorship from the likes of VMI Blackburn and the Co-op at Great Harwood and these have kept us going.

"The future is not bleak for the club and hopefully a goal or two - which is what we need - will make it better. That is the big problem but unfortunately strikers at this level are not cheap."

Harwood have been slammed for releasing their younger talents but Holden says the club can't be criticised for this.

"We have let Andy Proctor and Jonathan Smith go to Accrington Stanley - but who can blame us? We can't compete with the likes of Accrington Stanley.

"The lads could be playing in the Conference in 15 months time and we can't stand in their way. We wouldn't."

In the good old days the likes of former Ewood legends Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas moved onto the Showground.

"I can't see many Blackburn players ending up at Great Harwood now although it would be very nice!" laughed the Harwood chief.

With all this pressure, doesn't he ever think of packing it in?

"I like the game too much. I am 58-years-old and sometimes the players make me feel like 108 and sometimes 28. I love the craic with the lads and the atmosphere here is never downbeat.

"There are no problems in the club but if any fans have any come and see me!"