Boston have mountain to climb - Coughlan

Graham Coughlan was in charge of Newport County in League Two last season

New boss Graham Coughlan says he wants to return smiles to the faces of Boston United supporters as they try to climb away from National League relegation danger.

The 50-year-old has replaced Ian Culverhouse as Boston boss, with the promotion-winning 60-year-old sacked just 16 games into their return to the fifth tier.

Coughlan has taken charge of a Boston side that remains winless at home in the league three months into the season and who are second from bottom in the table.

"It's a mountain we need to climb," he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire. "But how many people have we seen climb mountains in the past?"

He can count himself among them, having previously helped steer Bristol Rovers and Newport County away from relegation trouble in higher divisions.

Coughlan says Pilgrims fans will play a crucial role in the club's battle to avoid an immediate return to England's sixth tier.

He says their "brilliant and positive" backing of the side made an impression on him when watching their 1-1 home draw with Dagenham earlier this month - and now he wants more of the same.

"Now I'm needing them, and now I'm asking them to ramp it up a little bit more and dig deep, roll your sleeves up, sing your hearts out and really get behind the lads because you are going to play a massive part in any type or turnaround at this football club," Coughlan said.

"Hopefully we can turn a corner together and we can push on and try build something."

Coughlan's first match in charge of Boston will be Saturday's game against Braintree at the Jakemans Community Stadium.

The Pilgrims are the only National League side side yet to win at home this season, having lost seven and drawn three of the 10 games they have hosted.

"We want to send our punters home on Saturday with a smile of their faces because they haven't had a lot to smile about this season," Coughlan said.

"To try and turn this form around, we are all going to have to play a big part in doing that. It's not going to be easy, it's not going to happen over night, we haven't got a magic wand, so every single one of us - players, fans, the lot- need to give that 1% extra to try and turn the tide in our favour."