Captain Paul Reid stresses Scunthorpe United players supported Alan Knill right to the end of his reign at Glanford Park

Scunthorpe United club captain Paul Reid says departed manager Alan Knill had the full support of the Iron's players up until the day of his departure.

The determined defender says the Iron squad must shoulder the blame for poor results this season, though he is quick to stress that what has happened in the past must not be allowed to affect the future.

"I had always hoped that we as players could have turned it round without the manager losing his job," he told the Telegraph

"I think we've got to take as much of the blame for that as anybody else.

"Without looking back too much, because we do need to move forward quickly, I hope the lads keep it in their minds that we are vastly responsible for someone losing their job.

"We just didn't perform, it just didn't happen.

"He didn't lose the dressing room as far as I'm concerned.

"We had a bit of a meeting after the game on Saturday and we all said a few things, but none of it was really critical of the manager, it was all more focused on ourselves.

“The manager and previous management worked really hard to prepare us but ultimately we just didn’t do it on the pitch.

“Hopefully with a new manager coming in it can give the players a bit of a lift and change things round, but I would always say it’s down to us as players.

"I was fine with Alan, got on pretty well with him.

"I sent him a message on Monday night to thank him for making me captain and a few other little bits.

"I'd have no problem working with him again if that turned out to be the case further down the line.

"But right now I've got a new manager to impress."

Given their lowly position in the league, Reid accepts results and performances – particularly at Glanford Park - have to improve fast.

And he says the first thing Brian Laws is looking to do since stepping into Knill’s shoes is instil ‘a bit of pride’ in the players.

“It’s going to take a while before the gaffer really gets his point of view across and we understand exactly what he wants from us, but results wise that needs to happen as quickly as possible,” said the centre-back.

“I think he just wants to get back to having a bit of pride around the place, a bit of enthusiasm and working hard with a smile on our faces.

“We’ve had a difficult time at home over the last 18 months, it’s something we certainly need to address and try to get the fans behind us again – we’ve not given them much to shout about over the last season-and-a-half.

“Everyone’s got their different opinions on how things should be done but we can’t really look back too much at the moment – not from the gaffer’s previous reign here and not from the manager who has just unfortunately left.

“It’s ruthless to say it really but we’ve got to move on and move on quickly because we’re in a fight at the moment.

“The more results go against us, the harder it’s going to be.

“More than anything else, whether other people agree or not, we’re obviously not going to win every game between now and the end of the season, I would just like to see us have a real good go at it.

“I can understand fans’ frustrations because even I felt out on the pitch that there’s a way to lose.

“If you get beat 1-0 at home but the fans can see you’re giving everything you’ve got, I think they accept that.

“I think they appreciate that you’ve done all you can and it just hasn’t happened on the day.

“But the manner of some of our defeats, especially at home and especially on Saturday (the 3-0 defeat to MK Dons), has been unacceptable.”

They may already be 15 games in, but Reid insists the fact the transition between managers has been quick still gives United enough time to turn their season around.

“It helps that the manager came in almost immediately and he gets as long as possible to try to put his views and his thoughts on the team together,” he added.

“If it had dragged on and dragged on, you’re another couple of games down the line and still no better off.

“It’s great that the club have got an appointment in straight away, that gives us the best chance.

“But that’s just the start of things, we all know in no uncertain terms that we’ve got a lot of hard work to do.”