Crisis, What Crisis?

The National Press have been out in force at Meadow Lane this week and Dearden admits this is just one of the things you have to contend with when your finincial situation is so bad.

While things look brighter on the takeover front then they did at the start of this week, there is still a chance that the club may fold on Monday, if the latest bid fails.

But despite all this Dearden and his players have had to try and ignore all this and get prepared for a game of football.

"We have had all the media down here now, because of what is happening," he told the Evening Post.

"The TV people are suddenly interested and want an interview.

"But I have tried to keep the players away from it.

"I will not be making anything special of the game during the team talk, we will just be treating it like any other.

"There is going to be enough pressure on the players' shoulders as it is.

"They do not need any extra burdens to take with them out onto the pitch."

Given everything that has happened over the last 18 months of his tenure, this is something Dearden is probably becoming used to.

But he says it is impossible not to let the situation off the pitch affect you, even if it is only in a small way.

"It has been hard and it has affected us. I am not saying it has affected us on the pitch, I am not using it as an excuse like that," he said.

"But it is bound to get to you. Players are not stupid, they read the papers, they listen to the radio.

"And all the speculation is bound to get to them.

"Everyone is worried about it and half the time you are not told a great deal about what is happening, which isn't on."

Even with the end now in sight, Dearden is understandably cautious.

"It does look as though things still might be resolved on Monday, one way or another," he said.

"Let's hope that it is positive news. It seems as though it will be, but then we have said that two or three times."

Nick Fenton- out of Saturday's clash

On the selection front Dearden has to contend without the injured Nicky Fenton (hamstring), Steve Jenkins (thigh) and Tony Hackworth (strain).

While Michael Brough and Saul Deeney are both on under 21 international duty with the Wales and Ireland respectively.

Dearden ended on a positive note:

"We are playing a football match after all. We want to get a win to build on what we did last Saturday.

"Hopefully it won't be the last we play, it is looking as though it probably won't be. And we can't afford to believe that it is.

"What we want is to be able to look forward to the future.

"If you want to be positive, at least it looks as though things will be resolved next week, hopefully with a positive outcome."