ROGER Holmes is old and wise enough to know that it is far too early to push the panic button at Clitheroe.

With 20 years' experience under his belt at his home town club, Holmes has seen and done it all before.

And while the 41-year-old player/coach knows that things may not be going to plan at Littlemoor -- he firmly believes it will all come good.

Clitheroe are currently rooted to the foot of North Lancs Two and have lost all four of their opening league games. But Holmes, a back row player of some repute, is willing to lead by example to get his team up and running.

"Losing your opening four games is not the ideal start to the season but it's not all doom and gloom," said Holmes, in his second season as player/coach. "We are slowly improving in all areas and I don't think that our first win is too far away. It is up to me to lead by example but we also have to do it as a unit."

Unlike a lot of other clubs, Clitheroe have a relatively small group of players to call upon. So when injuries, work commitments, stag nights and honeymoons come along, it hits the club hard.

"We've only got about 20 players in our first team squad and we do struggle when a few drop out. I'm not making excuses but we have suffered with injuries. Our captain, Dave Watson, has been out for a few weeks and at scrum half, he is one of our most important and influential players."

Clitheroe slipped to a 33-10 defeat at Carnforth on Saturday -- a defeat hard to take as they beat them in a friendly fixture only last month.

Holmes added: "It's frustrating because we have yet to find the form in league matches we seem to be able to produce in the less pressurised friendlies."

Off the pitch, it is all coming good for Clitheroe.

The makeshift changing rooms have long since gone to be replaced by a plush new clubhouse. Links have been forged with Clitheroe Hockey Club and Ribble Valley Netball Club.

Clitheroe has a good junior set-up, two senior sides, and plans are under way to bring in a community coach, which is partly funded by the RFU.

"The club is in good shape at the moment," Holmes added. "We have a great social side and a good junior section and if we get this community coach to forge links with the schools then it can only get better."

All that seems to be missing is an elusive first league win.

"We go to North Ribblesdale for a friendly on Saturday before a crunch home game against Broughton the week after. If we beat them, then we will certainly have something to cheer about."