Boss Rob Smith has sent out a defiant message to AFC Telford United’s critics, declaring: “Trust us to get it right.”

Smith was left scratching his head in frustration as the Bucks went down 2-0 at home to Southport on Saturday.

It was their third home league defeat in a row and leaves them 11th in the Blue Square North, eight points off the play-off places.

But the Bucks boss insisted he and assistant Larry Chambers were working harder than ever to get back on track.

“Trust in what we do because we do it for the good of the club,” he said.

“I don’t do anything for myself, for my own gain or for Larry’s gain, it’s all for the good of the club.

“I don’t make decisions to get at people and try and do things wrong, I do it because I love the club.

“If people back me instead of having a go at me then we will get through it.

“People think we’ve got problems in the dressing room but we haven’t, everything’s just as tight as ever in there.

“It’s just not happening results-wise at the moment, and that’s football I’m afraid – things don’t always go your way.”

Smith admitted Southport deserved their victory on Saturday, their two goals coming in the space of five first half minutes.

And he insisted he had no problem with anyone criticising what was a disappointing performance by his misfiring side.

“I’ll get pelters for this and I said to the boys that I’ll take it all, that’s fine,” he said.

“I listen to it all week – some of it is fair, some of it is not fair. I’m the same, if I support a team I will criticise.

“At the moment we’re not good enough so the criticism is just and fair.

“We’re not just going to give in because some people want us out of the club or whatever. The chairman’s still behind me and I’ve got faith that I can do the job.”