Scunthorpe United spending 'far more than we ought to', says chairman Steve Wharton

Chairman Steve Wharton has admitted he is 'very concerned' by Scunthorpe United's poor start to the season.

But he has refused to say whether manager Alan Knill's position is under threat.

With defeats from their opening four league games, not since 1966 have the Iron made a worse start to a campaign.

They claimed their first point last Saturday against nine-man Sheffield United, but the Scunthorpe boss continues to come under fire from sections of the Glanford Park crowd.

There were chants of 'Knill out' only days earlier when United were beaten in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy by Notts County.

Wharton though, is remaining tight-lipped on whether such a course of action is imminent.

"I don't think now is the time for me to be discussing people's position," he told the Telegraph.

"I don't want to go into details at present.

"We're in a difficult situation and we need to stick to doing whatever we can to get out of it.

"Hopefully we can do the right things that are best for the club.

"Of course it's worrying, but I don't think it's good for me to be expressing my opinion in the media at a time when the club is going through a difficult time.

"On the one hand, fans like to know what you think, but at the same time it's important we stay calm and do all the right things for the club."

When asked what he made of fans' vocal criticism of Knill he added: "I don't want to discuss that.

"Everyone is entitled to express their opinion but it doesn't help the situation.

"I would probably say, does it help for fans to boo the team? But fans have every right to express their feelings.

"It's a difficult situation and we've got to do what's best for the club."

That does not however, mean any extra money will be made available to boost Knill's squad with loan signings.

"Money's very tight," said Wharton, who revealed no progress has been made in his search for a successor.

"We suffered a large loss last year and we're heading for a large loss again this year.

"Unless someone comes in to put investment into the club, we're certainly spending far more than we ought to be."

Knill meanwhile, insists he thrives on the pressure he is currently under.

They may be bottom of the table ahead of today's trip to Shrewsbury Town and yet to record an outright win in any competition, but the manager remains convinced he can turn Scunthorpe's season around.

There is a unity in the squad, he says, born out of a desire to prove the doubters wrong.

"The good thing is the group is together and they all believe we can get out of it," said Knill. "It's for us to prove people wrong.

"At the moment, everybody writes us off, which you don't want but it goes with the territory I suppose. Only we can turn that around.

"I think we like that challenge, I know I really do.

"That's what life's about.

"It's why we come to work, or why I come to work – to prove all those people wrong.

"If you can't, you've got to just be honest with yourself and say, 'look, I had a real go'.

"That's what we're all doing, we're all having a real go.

"Hopefully it turns around.

"But as long as you can go, we've done everything possible to do that, then I won't have any complaints about myself first and my players after me."