Phil Brown has sent out a message to all the teams fighting it out for promotion from League Two that his Barrow side will not be taking their foot off the gas during the season finale.
The Bluebirds travel to second-placed Exeter City on Tuesday evening and will also meet promotion hopefuls Swindon Town and Northampton Town before the curtain comes down on their 2021/22 campaign.
That means that Barrow could have a big say on the final make-up of the top seven and Brown is adamant that his players will not be allowed to drop their standards despite clinching safety with victory over Sutton United on Saturday.
“I want to promise Exeter, Swindon and Northampton that they’re in for a game,” he told us.
“The rest of the promotion candidates can rest assured that Barrow will not be lying down in any of the games and if I can put out my strongest eleven then I will be doing.
“It’s not being nasty when I say we want to spoil the party – you can still enjoy yourself at each party you go to but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to come out with a result.
“I am fighting for a contract, it’s as simple as that, and there are some players at the Club who are fighting for contracts as well.”
Brown revealed that he will leave some decisions for Tuesday’s selection until late as he runs the rule of Aaron Amadi-Holloway who came off injured on Saturday and Tom Beadling who missed the game with a groin problem.
However, the Bluebirds boss has vowed to name as strong a line-up as he can as the squad embark on the epic midweek journey to face The Grecians.
“I am looking at everything and every player’s situation, but I am not going to be messing around with the team so if I could keep the same line-up and the same subs then I would do.
“Obviously, Aaron limped out of Saturday’s game and looks doubtful but we’re having him assessed today and we haven’t given up hope on him yet, but Josh Kay is suspended.
“We came into the game on Saturday and, suddenly, we had two or three little niggles and obviously Tom Beadling didn’t make the team, but he has made the trip with us for Tuesday so he’s going to pitch in and see if he can play a part.
“There are lots of things still to be decided yet, but the most important part is finishing the season strongly and putting a marker down for next season.
“Whether a new contract is in my plans or whether it’s in Barrow’s, every time you go across that white line you’ve got to try and win that game of football.”
City need just one more win to clinch promotion and Matt Taylor’s side are set to be roared on by a near-capacity crowd of over 7,000 at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Brown is relishing the prospect of being part of such an occasion and is hoping his players can put in a performance that makes a lasting impression on those who turn up to watch.
“I would rather be going into a game where there is something on it - and you’ll definitely see at St James’ Park that there is something on it for the Exeter fans.
“I just hope they go home knowing we gave them a game and remember the day that Barrow came to town and didn’t lie down for anybody.”