Boss Adam Murray reaffirms commitment to Mansfield Town job as emotion subsides

On Saturday he said: “That was shambolic and the lowest point of my 20-odd games. We were gutless, spineless and I am ashamed to represent that tonight.

“Three months ago my remit was to keep this football club in the League. I will fight and scrap to do that and then I’ll have a decision if I need this. Sometimes you’ve got to look at the battles you are fighting.”

However, by this morning Murray’s upset had subsided and he said: “I’m a passionate guy and I do speak from the heart.

“It’s something I don’t want to change because I don’t want to take that passion away from myself and the team that I lead.

“After Saturday’s game we were all a little emotional and frustrated. With the way I am myself, I shoot a little bit from the hip. I’ve had an in-depth thinking weekend and we have to look at things in a positive manner.

“I’ve gone over it a few times and it has been a long weekend. There’s been a lot of soul-searching.

“But my opinion after Saturday remains what is was from after the game. It was a bad performance from all aspects, and the lowest point of my 20-odd games in charge.

“I didn’t see it coming and I didn’t think this group was capable of such a lacklustre performance.

“But we have to move on and go again. We come in today and re-group. We have seven ‘World Cup finals now’ where we have to stand up and be counted and put more points on the board.

“I’ll be asking for a reaction because the football club and fans deserve that. I want us to get back to working hard and expressing ourselves by playing football - when we’ve done that we’ve picked up results.

“We’ve had a good few weeks, taking out the last two results, and have put some good results on the board which have put us in a half-decent position to move forward.”

He added: I’m positive about the future. It’s a project that I’ve always said will take time and will need a lot of work.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of managers over the weekend about the situation of inheriting an organisation halfway through (a season) and it’s cleared my mind up a bit, so I’m clear about where the project is going and I’m looking forward to the upcoming battles.

“The overall picture is positive. I look at the likes of Wycombe last year, who were probably in more of a battle than we are now at this stage last season. You look at them now and that gives me hope.

“I’m confident in what I’m about and what my staff are about and I know we’ll be okay. It’s through these tough times when you learn about yourself and the environment you’re in.

“I know we’ll be successful and I’m looking forward to doing that next year.

“I’m learning every day and for a first job I don’t think you could get any tougher.

“I love the job and love what I’m doing. I know I can be successful here. It’s tough and challenging but one of the reasons I took the role was to test myself and experience new pastures.”

Mansfield Town now prepare for a tough week with trips to Southend and Plymouth sandwiching an Easter Monday home game with Shrewsbury – all top seven sides.