A SECOND consecutive 5-0 drubbing, at the hands of Ossett Town, in a game to which the Rams contributed nothing brought mutterings from the fans about the future of manager Mark Fell.

In a season in which more than 50 players have been used, and after a performance that supporters would consider far from acceptable, questions about Fell’s future are inevitably surfacing.

The reality is that Ramsbottom United is suffering, and another heavy defeat served only to increase the unrest in the crowd.

There was an element of misfortune to both of the first two goals scored by a useful but far from inspiring Ossett team.

After eight minutes Dean Stott headed into his own net and many felt there was more than nudge on Paul Linwood as he tried to clear the deep cross which led to Ossett’s second. The ball fell to Nathan Curtis, who sent it across the face of goal for Danny Frost to head home.

But that is a far as any claim to bad luck can be stretched.

In truth the Rams were clueless in attack, chronic in midfield and creaking at the back. In the two minutes of added-on time Ossett could have scored another three but were thwarted by two fine saves by young keeper Dean Hardy as well as a goalline clearance.

The Ossett keeper had not been called upon to save a shot in the first 45 minutes.

In fact, the Rams did not have a credible attempt on goal all day.

After the break it was Hardy again having to make plunging saves but two goals in three minutes killed off the game as a contest.

Andy Hawksworth drilled home from the edge of the area after the Rams failed to clear a corner and then Curtis drifted through three weak challenges and curled a ball inside the post with the outside of his boot.

The final goal, which came in the last minute, summed up the Rams’ ineptitude. Ossett moved the ball forward without serious challenge and Tom Murphy was left with three men to mark. He could do nothing to prevent the cross which found Jason Yates unmarked in front of goal and he scored to seal another miserable day for Ramsbottom.

n Rams manager Fell has strengthened his backroom team with the appointment of former Burnley, Preston, Rochdale and Wigan striker Graham Lancashire.

The 44-year-old, who recently left Burnley’s academy, will become assistant manager from the start of next season, but will be involved in the Rams’ final three games.