Manager Alan Knill tonight revealed he has fears over his position at Scunthorpe United after seeing his seven-month reign at the club reach its lowest point.

The Iron crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Hartlepool United at Glanford Park as a result of a performance the 47-year-old labelled as one poorest of his 250 games in management.

United, who slipped to 18th in the table, three points above the relegation zone, have won just three times in 18 games this season and were booed off at both half-time and full-time.

A season which started with a focus on the top six is quickly turning into one where the aim has to be to avoid being dragged into the bottom four.

Knill admitted after this latest defeat he may not be around to see its conclusion if results do not improve.

"I understand everybody's frustration and the criticism is just when you put in a performance like that," the Iron manager said in a frank and honest post-match press conference.

"People pay money to come and watch and they pay money to be entertained. That wasn't entertaining from start to finish.

"It was probably one of the worst performances I've ever been in charge of and I take responsibility for that.

"I said to the players at half-time, 'it looks as if you're not bothered'.

"I'm probably saying the same things other managers have said, but sooner or later it has to change otherwise there'll be a change. Usually it's the manager.

"I'm a football manager. Every day you fear for your position.

"The thing was, when we took the job, I knew from day one there were some problems.

"I know football managing is not about time, but that's usually what it takes.

"We'll work our best to try to change things around but to do that I have to have that from the players as well."

Knill believes Scunthorpe's problems are deep-rooted and go back to prior to his arrival at Glanford Park.

He referred to 'issues' – and seemingly questioned certain players' desire – among the dressing room and says ridding the Iron of their problems has been much harder than he initially expected.

"I can remember walking in on day one and thinking there might be some issues. They haven't gone away," said the former Rotherham and Bury chief.

When asked to explain those issues, Knill responded: "Every day I expect people to want to be better and to want to try to lengthen their careers.

"I don't want them to be happy walking off the training ground having not been the best player.

"I expect that every day, but I can't say I get that every day.

"We keep on and keep on at the players because I think those teams that do that are usually the ones that are successful. That's what we're fighting for." 

Knill stopped short of saying Scunthorpe were in a relegation battle in League One.

But given their league position, and the fact they have now failed to score a goal in five of their last seven outings in all competitions, he accepts some connected with the club are beginning to nervously look over their shoulders.

He added: "There's always a fear (of being dragged into a relegation battle).

"Obviously you want to look forward but there's always a fear and the more you lose, the bigger it becomes.

"Only we as a group can turn that around, but I don't think you can get any worse than today's performance.

"I've said many times before, I'll take losing, but there's ways you lose.

"If we're going to lose, I want us to lose having gone forward and maybe over-passed a little bit too much.

"We weren't positive at all and all departments, from back to front, were poor.

"We have to turn it around and put it right because we've put ourselves in a tough position."