Twists and turns before the end...

The Blues, who fell at the final hurdle last season, have got huge games against fellow promotion hopefuls in the pipeline, and Housham says his men are relishing the challenge.

Speaking ahead of vital clashes against Guiseley and Harrogate Town this weekend, he told the Standard: “The big games are the ones as a manager, player and fan that you want to be involved in.”

“It’s great for Gainsborough Trinity to be involved in these big games.”

“We’re fighting for something, and fighting for the play-offs, and we seem to turn up against big boys and get good results.”

With the weather impacting the fixture list and threatening to force a fixture pile-up, the Gainsborough gaffer says there is safety in numbers.

“The squad is sizeable, it’s big enough toc ope.”

“The only real injury worry we have is Jan Budtz, and Jason White has come in and done well between the posts.”

“The weather has given Michael Leary and Mark Jones extra time to recover.”

While he accepts there may be some drama and trauma before the season finale, local man Housham is maintaining that a play-off finish is more than possible.

“There are going to be twists and turns. But if we get the wins we need to get more points than we did last season, we’ll be okay.”

And as the club’s off-field future appears to remain in the balance, with the expected departure of backer Peter Swann this summer, Housham says his job is to keep everyone focused on the job in hand.

“It’s common knowledge, the players know everything that’s going on and the chairman has spoken to them.”

“We’re trying to be as professional as we can, we’ve got a job to do.”

“I’m getting on with it, it’s a long way to the end of the season and hopefully when it ends we’ll be looking forward to Blue Square Premier football.”