Crawely boss Francis Vines has been backed by the man who could push him closer to the sack.

Vines is under pressure after a disappointing start to the season. He could be axed if rock-bottom Crawley lose against Kidderminster Harriers at the Broadfield Stadium tonight.

Kidderminster manager Stuart Watkiss has no plans to do Vines any favours but insists he deserves more time to turn things around.

He said: "Francis Vines has a very good name in football and did brilliantly with Crawley last season when they were in the Conference for the first time. That shouldn't all change because he has had a poor sequence of results.

"It would be different if they had been playing badly but, from what I have heard, they have been putting in decent performances and are organised.

"I say give the guy more time because his luck will change soon. I believe it takes at least 12 to 15 games for the league to settle and even then you have 30-odd games left. That is a hell of a lot of football to be played.

"I saw Crawley's game against Aldershot a few weeks ago and I was amazed both teams were down the bottom.

"I thought it was only a matter of time before they started climbing the table and have been waiting for them to take off.

I'm surprised they haven't but I'm sure they will soon.

"That is why we won't be taking anything for granted.

"We know it is going to be a very hard game and if we are a fraction off our best, we will lose the game.c Watkiss can sympathise with Vines because he has been in a similar position. The former Wolves defender was in charge of Mansfield when they were relegated to League Two in 2002, a year after guiding them to promotion.

He suffered the drop again with Harriers when they were relegated from the Football League last May and has faced criticism from fans this season following an inconsistent start.

He said: "It only takes a few bad results for people to turn on you. I found that out last Tuesday. Two weeks ago we'd had a good start to the season and everyone was happy.

"Then we had two defeats and from the reactions of fans you would have thought the club was about to go out of business.

"Unfortunately for managers, that sort of thing is part of the job description nowadays.

"You try telling people it is only two defeats but it doesn't work. Then when you win a game it goes the other way and you have to say it is only one win.

"You get judged on a couple of games but people have to remember a season is 45 games long.

The Crawley players are aiming to make tonight's game the start of a winning run.

Midfielder Simon Wormull said: "The players are looking to win our next three games.

We've got Altrincham and Scarborough after Kidderminster and they are all winnable.

"It is no good us winning one game and then losing three because then we are going to be in the relegation fight.

"We have got to string two or three wins together to get some confidence back, starting against Kidderminster, and then we will be okay.