​Magpies still have work to do to ensure safety

​The Magpies have endured a challenging time in the National League North this season.

So accustomed to challenging for a play-off place at this time of the year, the Victory Park side find themselves still scrapping for the points they need to secure their mathematical safety.

The likelihood is their status in the division is assured, as it will take an almighty turn of events to see the club relegated.

Currently, they sit seven points above the drop zone in 16th spot with two games of their campaign left.

Only third-bottom Hereford of the bottom four can overhaul Chorley’s points total but they must win all of their final three games and hope Preece’s men fail to add to their points total.

In any case, there are still a number of clubs below Chorley in the table which means relegation is highly unlikely.

They do, however, travel to a team who are still at risk of the drop this weekend.

King’s Lynn Town – who appointed new manager Paul Caddis last month – are four points above fourth-bottom Alfreton Town ahead of this weekend’s penultimate game of the season.

Preece, who saw his men lose 1-0 at home to Curzon Ashton last Saturday, admits he wants to see his men secure their status themselves rather than rely on other results.

Preece said: “We are still mathematically not safe. I think Hereford have to win all their games and we have to lose all ours.

"And then it will need the clubs below us to get points in their games.

"We want to make sure we finish the season strongly. We go to King's Lynn on Saturday, they are not safe.

"They are just above the relegation zone, so it’s going to be a tough game.

"They are scrapping for points, we are looking for the points we need.

"I think it just goes to show how brutal this league is. It was only last year that we were playing King's Lynn in the play-offs.”

In terms of the squad, Preece revealed Jack Sampson is a huge doubt for this weekend.