IAN Woan is adamant that he has not signed for a relegation-doomed side.
While Andy King has struggled to bring in new faces, the former Nottingham Forest midfielder has committed himself to the County Ground until the end of the season - at least.
As Town have struggled in the league, Woan's form has been impressive throughout.
His passing and accuracy from free kicks and corners has been a real asset to the Town attack.
He is delighted to have cemented his place in Andy King's plans.
He said: "If I thought for one second that the side were going to get relegated and were not capable of getting out of it then I wouldn't have signed."
Woan believes the club has good players but all they are lacking at present is confidence.
"Once they get a win or two wins back to back, the confidence will come back," he said.
He said even the world's best players were not capable of producing their best if they did not believe they could do it.
While Woan believes his colleagues are far better players than the current league position suggests, he is under no illusions about the battles Town will have to face in the weeks and months ahead.
"There are no easy games when you're in the position we're in. The majority of the teams are above us at the moment, so all the games are going to be difficult," he said.
If Town can plug a defence which has been leaking goals at an alarming rate, Woan is confident his colleagues can score goals at the other end.
"I look around and I see goals in the team. We are always capable of scoring," he said.
With the players suffering a blistering verbal attack from chairman Terry Brady this week, Woan believes it will not damage confidence further.
"Maybe it was a bit of reverse psychology, to get the lads fired up for the game on Saturday," he said.
Town boss Andy King can claim much of the credit for Woan's success at the County Ground. The player had little chance of first team football at Barnsley.
The Town boss said: "I like to think Ian has come here and found a new lease of life."
King said it had been a two-way deal. While Town had been able to offer the player first team football, Woan had more than met his part of the bargain.
"What is typical Ian Woan is that he has been honest and given commitment back to the club," said King.
Woan has found favour with a manager who loves to see the game played with passion, commitment but also skill.
"The game is about football. If I wanted runners I'd go to the athletics club. If it was all about physique then I'd go to a rugby club," he said.
While Woan looks forward to the rest of the season, the Town boss has vowed new players will be brought in, but only if they are better than those he already has.
There will be no additions just for the sake of a new face.
"Although I will improve it when I can, I still think these players are capable of being in a better position than they are," said King.
He said there was no doubt at all that the players were better than a bottom three Division Two side.
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