NEWPORT County AFC manager Jimmy Dack has called for an end to the ‘doom and gloom’ surrounding the club and appealed to fans to have a sense of perspective about the Exiles’ progress.

County have lost three successive matches and face the prospect of having to win the remaining three, starting at home to Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow, to have any chance of sealing a League Two play-off spot.

But Dack argues that, even if they miss out on a top-seven spot, the club has had a ‘fantastic’ season.

“We’ve got to inspire the supporters and start giving them something to sing and cheer about,” said the manager.

“But the trouble is it is all doom and gloom. As a club we’ve had a fantastic season.

“We’ve been in a promotion push and with three games to go we’re still in it. I don’t understand all the doom and gloom.

“That’s the problem; we’re very quick to criticise. I think we should be embracing where we are and enjoying it.

“It’s our second season in the League. We came up with Mansfield and they’ve been in a relegation battle for most of the season.

“That’s how far we’ve come as a club and I think we’ve got to remember that we’re two years into being a Football League club and we are getting better,” he added.

“The aim is to improve every season and the reality is that we have improved as a club. All you can do is make progress and that’s what we’ve done.

“We had 58 points last season and we’re up to 62 already so there is improvement.

“We are going to try to get out of this league this season but if we fall short it won’t be for the want of trying.”

Dack says most supporters appreciate the team’s efforts this season but the vocal minority are not helping the players.

“I don’t like all the negativity,” he said. “As a club I think we’re very quick to hark on bad publicity. I think we’ve got to keep looking forward and try to see the positives all the time.

“Yes we’ve lost three games and we are all disappointed but we are still in the mix with three games to go.

“I know the fans are disappointed, but no more than the players and the staff. We are desperate to get in those play-offs.

“It is hard because we are trying and I think the majority of the fans do recognise that.

“I do get some good texts and if I’m staying in the area people come up to me and say ‘keep going’ and they recognise that we are doing our best.”