Barrow AFC need a change in mentality and stop thinking of themselves as underdogs if they are to achieve what they are capable of as a club, according to manager Ian Evatt.

Under Evatt, the Bluebirds have managed to put behind them last season’s narrow escape from relegation and are comfortably in midtable in the National League with the current campaign in its closing stages.

However, he has always stated that his ultimate aim during his time in charge is to return to the club to the Football League for the first time since 1972.

He’ll have the chance to continue the progress shown since his appointment last summer after the 37-year-old revealed after last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against Boreham Wood that he is close to agreeing a new contract.

Evatt said: “It’s not just about the players having that mentality of belief, it’s the whole club, the fans, the town.

“We are seen as underdogs still, I believe, I think the fans still see us as underdogs – it’s kind of a glass half-empty, rather than half-full kind of place.

“That’s no disrespect to anyone, I just think that mentality-wise, we need to change that, be really positive and have firm beliefs that this team and this club can get into the promised land and into the Football League and stay there.”

Evatt knows from his playing days what perceived underdogs can achieve with a ‘why not us?’ attitude, as he was part of the Blackpool team that won promotion, against the odds, to the Premier League in 2010.

What fuels his belief that the Bluebirds can start to challenge at the top of the National League is the way they’ve consistently played well against the teams challenging for promotion this season.

What they would have to cut out, however, is similar results against teams in the bottom half of the table, such as the Wood, that have prevented them from making a push for the play-offs this time around.

Evatt said: “Why can’t we? We’ve had a fantastic record against the top teams, you can see that we’re a very good side.

“We’re improving, we’re learning, we’re growing and next season I’m more than hopeful of having a very good season.

“It’s important not just for the players, but I think with the board, with all the staff that work with the football club, for all the fans and with all the town, it’s a mentality thing.

“We have to start believing that we are very good and they we can win promotion because I firmly believe that we can.

“If we all start believing that, then good things will happen.”