Cheltenham Town Football Club

• Nickname:The Robins
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Mark Yates

• Ground:Whaddon Road
• Capacity:7407

Downing enjoys Town escape

05 May 2008 - 17:34:23

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Cheltenham Town boss Keith Downing hopes to have silenced some of his critics by guiding the Robins to League One safety this season.

A 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Whaddon Road meant that Town escaped the drop by three points and Downing was delighted to have finished the season on a happy note.

He told the Western Daily Press: "I have had to earn the supporters' respect. It has been like getting thrown in at the deep end and I have learned a great deal from it.

"Some people didn't believe I was the right man to keep us up and that is fine with me.

"People do you a little bit of a disservice to say you don't deserve the job because you have no experience.

"I have had to develop a thicker skin because everyone has an opinion and I accept that. Football management is one of those jobs that is so open and supporters are very passionate people.

"All I could do is maintain belief in myself and the staff around me that the things we are doing were right."