David Unsworth has not quite reached his one-year anniversary, but he is already Oldham Athletic's longest serving manager in almost a decade.
Since Lee Johnson left to join Barnsley in February 2015 the Boundary Park reins have changed hands 18 times.
Unsworth has no intention of losing his grip on them, despite winning only one of their opening eight games this season.
Judging by the noises made during and at the end of Saturday's stalemate with Dorking, there is a growing number of fans who feel it is time for change.
Indeed, Latics chairman Frank Rothwell addressed the fans who had travelled to Gateshead the previous weekend to appeal for support, as opposed to a stance against the boss.
Equally, there is a portion of fans who yearn for stability and that revolving door to remain still.
But Unsworth knows that only wins will improve the overall mood.
"I understand the fans are desperate for success. I played in the last team at Everton that won a trophy. I understand every game you go into, the fans are that desperate it will feel like a must-win, but that desperation... you can't build anything on that," he said.
"I was speaking to Paul Cook when we played (Chesterfield) and they had a similar thing. I've spoken to Joe (Royle) and he had that at Manchester City.
"Football is hard enough when everyone is pulling in the right direction. This league is notoriously the worst league to try and get out of and we're trying everything we can.
"We want to get promoted as quickly as we possibly can. What we can't have is factions of what we need bringing what we're trying to do down.
"At the end of the day it's all about winning games, and we're not winning enough games at the moment to appease the fans, but there has to be a bit of understanding about why this club is where it is, and chopping and changing again in my opinion doesn't do any good. All the work that we've done, somebody else comes in and they want their own team.
"We've got a plan, we know we're just a little bit behind the curve at the moment, but there's no reason why we can't catch up. We're only eight games in."
Despite a six-game winless streak ahead of Saturday's trip to in-form Bromley, Unsworth remained defiant.
"I want to fight and I'll do everything I can, so will the staff, so will the players - the players care, because I see it in them and I hear it in them and they are together," he said.
"I understand everybody's frustration. Probably our form after Christmas has built up a summer of expectation.
"I'm listening to people saying we have the biggest budget in the league. We don't, I can assure you we don't. But we are a big fish in the National League. But it's National League and there's a reason why we're here. I don't want to go into the past, but there is a reason why this great football club is in the National League.
"It's up to the board, myself, the staff, the players, the fans to come together, to come up with a plan and to stick to the plan. Chopping and changing just isn't the way to do it. We've had that here for too long. Look where it's got us.
"I want to win every game. I'm desperate to give the fans a team that's challenging. We're eight games in to a 46 game season, there's a lot of the season to go.
"I think the players need the fans, I think the fans need the players and we're trying to bring everything together. We're not quite there yet but we'll get there."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel