His record as Iron manager is second to none, but BOB STEELS finds out from Nigel Adkins why he is desperate to bring more success to Glanford Park ahead of what could be his biggest challenge yet.

NIGEL Adkins has a remarkable record of success better than any of his predecessors as manager of Scunthorpe United.

Still short of four years in charge at Glanford Park, he can boast two visits to Wembley, two promotions and now a third season at Championship level for the Iron.

It has been a thrilling chapter in the club's history, with Adkins building well on the foundation stones that had been left behind by almost 10 years of Brian Laws.

He has taken Scunthorpe on to another level – but now faces what is probably his biggest challenge with a new squad that he has had to rebuild this summer.

His philosophy is to look upon the close season loss of five of his key players as a new challenge rather than a setback.

He knows the new faces he has brought in will have to adopt and adapt to Championship level football quickly – and he will be looking for players already established in his squad to continue to blossom in the coming campaign.

"Scunthorpe United will always be looked at as relegation favourites, we know that," said Adkins.

"But we defied all the odds last season, so why can't we do it again?

"This club has been successful over the last few years and we want that to continue.

"All I want us to do is improve each season as we go and be as professional as we can.

"If we can do that, then we give ourselves an opportunity to stay in this division again.

"Our aim is to extract every ounce out of every player individually and get them to perform as a team.

"We are all in this together – everybody can see what a great spirit we have at this club."

Personnel might have changed during the summer, but there is no change of ethic by United.

It will though be difficult to replace the scoring power of Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes who bagged 83 goals between them during the past two seasons to bring the Iron back to the second tier of English football – and then give them a foothold there.

"We have lost some good players," Adkins confessed.

"They have been handsomely rewarded, but that is because they have done the business for us, so we wish them well with their careers.

"But I am very pleased with the players we have been able to bring in this summer.

"We brought Chris Dagnall in from Rochdale early in the summer and I think he is going to be a player who our fans will like.

"We have brought in Bobby Grant from Accrington Stanley as one for the future. Maybe he is not quite ready just yet, but he has that energy and desire that we can develop.

"That is what we have a reputation for doing now, being a developmental club to bring out the best in young players."

Adkins is looking for two of the players he brought in last summer – Josh Wright and Michael O'Connor – to play a major midfield role for Scunthorpe this season.

He will also be looking for two of his 2008 signings – Garry Thompson and Martyn Woolford – to take their game to the next level after showing good consistency in the second half of last season.

Both have ability to score goals, and Scunthorpe will need a good contribution this season from them both.

And Adkins made it clear that the door is very much still open for striker Jonathan Forte who signed a new one year deal this summer.

Forte has been something of an enigma since arriving at Glanford Park three years ago from Sheffield United.

In the past two seasons his path has been blocked by Hayes and Hooper but with them now gone the opportunity is there for him to finally produce on a regular basis, the talent he shows flashes of.

"I believe Jonathan is going to do really well this year," said Adkins.

"He has all the ability but he just now needs to go and play."

A new-look squad in a new-look strip this season could also see a new-look flexible style, particularly away from home.

United have been experimenting with a 4-3-3 formation in the early pre-season games, which can naturally adjust to a 4-5-1.

They will use an anchor man in midfield this term and look to try out a diamond formation in the middle of the park.

"It's all about working out how we can win games of football," Adkins explained.

"You have to realise the level we are playing at. The Championship is a very tough league.

"But the experience we have gained from last season should be a help to us.

"And I want us to play attacking football and entertain.

"That's why we have not got a target man in the squad now. I don't want us to lump the ball forward, I want us to get it down and play.

"Our home form last season was excellent, but we have got to improve when we are away.

"Can we find a system that helps us concede fewer goals and pick up more points without losing our ability to play attacking football?"

There are a number of questions coming up this season that Adkins has to find the right answers to.

But he's no longer the rookie physiotherapist who first took up the managerial reins in November 2006.

He and his coaching staff have 'grown' with a club that has given them the opportunity to flourish as a team off the field.

Seven teams in the Championship will be starting off this season under new management.

Only two current Championship managers have been at their club for longer than Adkins – Dave Jones at Cardiff and Sean O'Driscoll at Doncaster.

Cardiff have been on the verge of returning to the top flight for the first time since 1962 and Doncaster are enjoying their best ever success.

That only underlines once again the importance of stability in the search for success – and Scunthorpe have that in abundance.