THE lady has decided - and she's not for turning, which is welcome news for Darwen FC boss Steve Wilkes!

Kath Marah, chairman of the NW Counties League First Division strugglers, has no plans to give the order of the Boot to her young manager - who works for the post office by day - even though Darwen are "anchored" at the bottom with just two wins from 19 games.

"This isn't one of those votes of confidence quickly followed by a sacking," stresses Kath. "Things aren't good, in fact it's been an exceptionally bad start, but I am keeping the faith and that includes my faith in Steve. He hasn't even got my permission to resign."

Aside from Vicky Oyston at Blackpool - where, incidentally, Kath resides - you can't find many chairladies, lady chairmen, chairmanwomen ...

"Look, I'm not politically correct. Call me the chairman, but don't ever refer to me as the chair - I may be many things, but I am not being taken for a piece of furniture."

Kath shoots from the hip and doesn't try to paper over the cracks, but she does say: "I can't recall any team at any level having the luck we've had with injuries.

"Crickey, we lost both our goalkeepers with long term injuries in the space of three days and there have been more broken limbs than you would believe possible. "We've begged and borrowed and that has made the job, Steve's job, all the more difficult.

"I still believe we can turn it around. I am not trying to kid anyone into thinking we are going to stay unbeaten for the rest of the season and win promotion, but I do feel we can get to a position of let's say, safety."

Kath remains frustrated at the poor level of support for Darwen: "We live in the enormous shadow of Blackburn Rovers. How can we compete with that in terms of attracting spectators or sponsors? But it won't stop us trying or battling on.

"I have been chairman for more than two years and I still relish the role. The team is showing signs of improvement.

Take last weekend at St Helens. No-one would have given us a prayer there, they had lost only twice and stood fourth with games in had.

"We got a point and came away disappointed not to have won Only an own goal by us caused it to end up 2-2. That's the sort of spirit we must continue to display - if we do that and stick together we will come through it.

Club captain Linden Howarth is back in training after a long-term injury, but he probably won't be risked in tomorrow's crucial home date with fellow strugglers Maine Road. Darwen will be looking for striker Ian Latham to continue his run of form - he scored both at St Helens and had a hat-trick "goal" disallowed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.