New Trinity boss Sinnott calls for fans' backing in crucial run-in

Sinnott was announced as Dave Frecklington's replacement on Tuesday with Trinity sat in the relegation zone and facing three tough away games to begin his tenure.

And in explaining that he has confidence his new charges can rise up the table, Sinnott also called on fans to embrace the challenge.

He said: "The support of the fans will be crucial over the next couple of months, perhaps more so than their great support up to now. Supporters always play a big part in whether a player feels wanted or comfortable and even confident too, so the fans have a huge role to play and if we can marry those factors together then we’ll be a stronger outfit.

“It’s a tough start for us but that for me is something to be embraced, not to run away from. Even sides up as high as 12th can’t feel that confident they’re safe yet so there’s a lot of teams in the same boat.

“My philosophy and how my teams play are combined. I like to pass the ball and like to enjoy watching what I coach. That way I can appreciate where the supporters are coming from.

“Everything will be quite condensed and we don’t have long left, nor do we have any kind of pre-season to prepare, but in the long run I want to bring in that passing game where the supporters enjoy watching their football and that brings points as well.

“I’ve always felt Gainsborough are a club with potential. The crowds are holding up well to a certain degree, although we’d of course like them to be bigger, but it’s been a difficult season and it’s been proved in the past that people will come through the turnstiles here if you can get a successful side here and one that plays attractive football too."

Sinnott, who made over 600 professional appearances as a centre-half, hopes his experience in the game will be a big asset in Trinity's future.

He said: “I had a 19-year career as a player and was very fortunate to have had a career that long. I really enjoyed it and played in all four divisions.”

“I worked in the Leeds academy for a while after retiring before taking over at Farsley in 2003. We had a very enjoyable four years there, including gaining three promotions. I then moved on to Port Vale which was an interesting learning curve for me. It didn’t work out there but things happen like that in football and it didn’t put me off.

“I went to Bradford Park Avenue and wasn’t there long but the seeds were set and a couple of years later they got promoted under my former assistant John Deacey.

“I then had a break before moving on to Altrincham, who had just been relegated from the Conference National.

“It was a really enjoyable time. Taking over a club that had just been relegated and with a good name in non-league circles thanks to their cup exploits in the past, meant it was a case of stabilising them initially, but it then became a progression which I feel has always been the case with me.”

Having also enjoyed a promotion with Altrincham, he then left the club in 2016 before taking a break from the game, ending with his appointment as Gainsborough boss. He expects to bring in an assistant manager before the weekend.

Short-term, Sinnott says the club's away form will be an important factor in them staying up, but is confident points will come.

He said: "The stats don’t lie. We have to be harder to beat when away from home and tighten up. Wins at home are great but when you look at the games we’ve got left, you need to be picking points up on the road too.

“I have a points total in my mind that I think we need to aim at if we’re to be operating in this division next year, so it’s a big challenge for everybody but not only is it tight up to about 17th, we are only six points behind 12th place so I’d rather be looking up than over our shoulders.

“I’ll evaluate the players and talk to people who have had eyes on the team all season about what the team has been about.

“I’ll be observing the players and want them to work hard and enjoy themselves because if you have those then you get the belief, and with that come better performances and therefore points.

“The short term aim is to get the belief into the players because situations like this can get on their shoulders a bit and it’s my job to make sure that’s not the case so they can perform to the best of their ability individually and collectively."