Can Feeney save Ards from the drop?

Warren Feeney's appointment at Ards is looking more shrewd with each passing week.

It may have only been a fortnight since his arrival, but the former Northern Ireland international looks like he could actually pull off what appeared impossible, and keep the club in the Premiership.

A dire run of results left the club with little option but to sack Colin Nixon - but was it too little too late?

It certainly doesn't appear to be the case with Feeney at the helm. His first game saw them beat relegation rivals Newry, and the second saw them battle for a point at the Oval.

The latter result was made all the more impressive considering they played half the game down to 10 men.

"I can't ask for anything more from the players. When they play like that, they shouldn't be in this position. Yeah I'm disappointed with the goal we conceded, but this is what it's going to take until the end of the season," said Feeney shortly after full time.

For the new boss, it's been a back-to-basics approach with his squad. At the Oval they were far from spectacular, but they had a newfound sense of stability and confidence that had been sorely lacking.

"We've got the fight for our lives. The players have been brilliant for me, but it's tough for them. I'm a big believer in intensity, organisation, and massively hard work. It's simple. When I played I knew I wasn't a Keith Gillespie or a Steven Davis, But I knew I could work hard and run. And it's going to take every single player to do that," said Feeney.

The challenge is huge, though.

Chasing down 10th place Warrenpoint looks almost impossible, as they hold a 10 point advantage with a game in hand. It looks like Feeney is in a dogfight with bottom club Newry City, to see who can nail down 11th, and take their fight for survival into a play-off.

Ards are currently a point ahead of City - but Feeney knows better than to invest faith in Darren Mullen's side dropping points.

Last Saturday, his point at the Oval was complemented by the fact that Newry lost, although Feeney believes it's of little importance at this stage,

"I don't care. I couldn't care if they had have won today. I have no interest. I'm here for Ards, so I'll worry about us and that's it," he concludes.

Feeney's personal circumstances indicate that he's relocating back home to East Belfast. If his Ards side continue to buy into his ethos of honesty and hard work, then he'll lead the club into another season in the top flight.