A TOP level meeting was due to take place yesterday afternoon (Tues) to discuss possible 'additional help' for under-fire Stockport County manager Sammy McIlroy.

And should extra help be required on the coaching side, former County caretaker boss John Hollins has told the Express that he would love to get involved at Edgeley Park again.

The Hatters slipped to another devastating home defeat on Saturday - 3-0 at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday - and now lie four points adrift at the bottom of League One.

Worrying

It's a worrying situation for the club, and a frustrating one for County supporters, many of whom turned on boss McIlroy during Saturday's game, yelling for him to be sacked.

But Cheshire Sport chief executive Niels de Vos has reiterated his and owner Brian Kennedy's support for the former Northern Ireland boss, they are standing by their man.

De Vos said: "We're very disappointed with the performances, as all the fans are, but we're meeting on Tuesday with the football coaching staff and bringing in additional help will be discussed.

"We've started already by bringing in Joe Corrigan to help with the goalkeepers, but maybe we'll decide to bring in other people in other areas.

"Mr Kennedy's approach is not to employ a manager and then get rid at the first sign of trouble though.

"But something does need to change, whether that's on the playing side or through additional help with the coaching or even some fitness help from the rugby staff.

"We'll be trying whatever we can."

'Upset'

De Vos added: "It isn't happening on the pitch, and we're as upset as anyone. We've got to try and get things sorted out.

"Thankfully we've got a two-week break from league action now to think about how to turn things around.

"We'll discuss a couple of loan players, we need people in who can make a difference, it needs to be looked at.

"Bringing in loan players seemed to work well for us last year, but we can't start throwing around big contracts.

"We are in a predicament, but Sammy's got to get wheeling and dealing again."

Meanwhile, former QPR, Chelsea, Rochdale and Swansea manager Hollins, who was caretaker boss at Edgeley Park following Carlton Palmer's sacking last year before moving on to manage Stockport Tiger Star for five months, is waiting for his telephone to ring, and would love to get a call from Stockport.

He was at the Sheffield Wednesday game on Saturday, but was on a scouting mission for Wigan Athletic.

He said: "I'd love to help out, that would be great.

"But I haven't heard anything from the club.

"I just love working, football has been my life, trying to solve problems is what I'm good at, I will always put my heart and soul into it."

On Saturday's game, the former England playing star added: "It was a familiar story for a struggling side like Stockport.

"One or two deflections can go against you, that was tough on the goalkeeper James Spencer.

"You've got to give more than an inch though, you've got to make things happen.

"But certainly the job isn't easy, when you're down at the bottom managing is the hardest job in the world, but you have to bounce back."

Since returning in the summer from his stint managing County's Chinese sister club, Hollins has had a brief spell on the coaching staff at Scottish outfit Raith Rovers.

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