Storks boss Wilkes wants squad to unite

The Arbories chief is demanding a siege mentality to manufacture a togetherness and unity on and off the field following claims that his squad is too individualistic.

Four defeats in their last five outings, with the latest against league leaders Runcorn Linnets, has seen Padiham plummet to 17th in the table and Wilkes feels that the time has come for his players to pull together.

“We’ve got some very good players at the club but individuals don’t win you games,” he said. “We are too individualistic which needs to change because teams win you games. We need to knuckle down and get back to winning games as a team.

“We’ve got to be better. On Saturday they performed with passion and desire, they threw their bodies on the line, and if they show that same level of commitment then we’ll climb the table.”

Padiham have led seven times in their last four games yet haven’t won once and they sit second bottom in the form table due to that fruitless sequence.

The task doesn’t get any easier at the weekend as the Storks host title-chasing Runcorn Linnets (kick off 3 p.m.).

“We need to get some wins on the board quickly with only 16 games left.

“We’re second bottom in the form table, losing five from our last six. That’s nowhere near good enough. I’m confident we’ll stay up but I won’t get over-confident because nobody is too good to go down.

“We need to start grinding out results and players need to realise that we’re in a relegation battle. We need to be able to win ugly.”