Mark Fell reportedly filled three pages of foolscap paper with notes on Workington’s home defeat to Atherton Collieries on Monday.
The manager-in-waiting is having time to assess his squad before taking over from Danny Grainger after the final NPL Premier Division game on April 27.
Fell, the ex-Lancaster City manager and Craig Rutherford, one of his assistants who is following him to Borough Park watched the game from the back of the Popular side.
In his own assessment of the 3-2 defeat Grainger had said he did not feel the players had done enough to impress their future boss.
“We have four games left against teams pushing for play-off places and I shudder to think what the scores will be if we perform like that,” said Grainger.
So after losing to two of the likely relegated sides in Stafford and Atherton Collieries, Reds start their tough run-in at Worksop on Saturday.
Worksop drew 3-3 at Borough Park earlier in the side, conceding two very late goals, when they had looked the second-best side (after leaders Radcliffe) that Reds had played.
They have somewhat disappointed lately and are seventh, but only three points out of the play-offs and with games in hand.
In the Northern League Carlisle City’s fading play-off challenge was virtually ended by Monday’s 2-0 defeat at neighbours Penrith.
But having collected well over 20 points more than they did last season City have still had an excellent campaign and manager Jim Nichols is still looking for a big finish.
They entertain struggling Northallerton on Saturday with an opportunity to make amends for their derby defeat.
Penrith boss Darren Edmondson was delighted with that 2-0 win over Carlisle City and he is looking for another confident display at home to West Allotment Celtic.
The Bonnyblues lost 1-0 at Celtic a couple of weeks ago but had enough chances to win it.
In the North West Counties League Premier Division Kendal Town have played themselves back into play-off contention with three games left.
The Easter Monday win at Charnock Richard was crucial as they have no margin for error. That will continue on Saturday when they entertain Chadderton, who are continuing to play catch-up with a big game tonight at Prestwick Heys.
Chadderton are fourth, one place and one point better off than the Mintcakes – but ahead of tonight have two games in hand.
Prestwich Heys are two places behind Kendal, two points behind and two games in hand. To say that Kendal will be looking for this result will be a massive understatement.
Times is running out for Holker Old Boys in Division One North. With two games left they are three points off the play-offs and on Saturday visit AFC Blackpool who are just outside the relegation one.
In the West Lancashire League Cleator Moor Celtic, rejuvenated by a late 5-3 win over Milnthorpe Corinthians on Monday, travel to fourth bottom Coppull United.
Whitehaven, who have had a fortnight to rest up and prepare for a big finish to the season, visit Wyre Villa who are next to bottom with only one win and a draw all season.
In the Wearside League Windscale have an attractive home game against second-in-the-table Gateshead Leam Rangers.
A crop of injuries sabotaged Windscale’s League challenge over the last two months but they had a fine win in the Alan Hood Charity Cup final last week to send them with confidence into their busy end-of-season programme.
