Tuesday's defeat against Mansfield Town in the big basement battle has left Wrexham with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation to the Blues Square Premier division.

With seven matches remaining, Wrexham are eight points adrift of safety and need a massive turna-round in fortunes if they are to keep their unbroken 87 year membership of the Football League intact.

Moss also revealed that Brian Little has been asked to stay on as manager.

Little, brought in as successor to Brian Carey last November, is contracted until the end of the season but Moss said the former Aston Villa and Leicester boss is close agreeing to to extend his stay at The Racecourse.

"Hopefully we can persuade Brian to stay on," said Moss today. "Brian is a good man and experienced.

"We have had discussions with Brian and I don't think we are far away from agreeing things.

"We want Brian to stay and he wants to stay. I would say we are 90-odd plus per cent away from agreeing things, although he has provisionally agreed.

"From a footballing point of view the club needs long term stability and we have confidence Brian is the man to take us on."

Moss accepts that Wrexham have got a battle on their hands if they are to pull clear of trouble.

While there is still a chance - however remote - Moss is not giving up hope and he said it was inevitable that plans have to be made up for an improbable relegation.

"Obviously you have always got to remain positive," said Moss.

"We won't go down without a fight, even though our position does not look promising. You must carry on and not give up, that is the attitude to have.

"Firstly, we will not give up and secondly, if we go down go we will give it our best shot.

"If the worst happens, we will tackle that problem head on and get things moving.

"We are not thinking that yet, but like any businessman, you have to have a back-up and contingencies in mind.

"We will carry on and if the worst happens, we will go again and do what we can."

Another brush with relegation, after Wrexham escaped the drop on the final day of last season with victory against Boston United, was the last thing that Moss envisaged this term.

Moss, who took a time-out from Wrexham's problems to get tickets for Liverpool's Champions' League quarter-final at Arsenal last night, said everything has been done by the board to aid Little and previous manager Brian Carey but admitted Wrexham have been poor throughout the season.

"We brought in an experienced manager which we thought would turn it around, and have signed lots of players but it has just not happened," said Moss.

"I don't know what else we could have done.

"I feel for the fans and when you see 600 at Mansfield on Tuesday, it is a fantastic following and quite amazing really when you think we have served up rubbish football most of the season.

"We are there because we deserve to be there.

"There are no excuses - we have got less points than anyone else and the table doesn't lie.

"I have been told this is not just this season, this demise has been going on for five years and don't take it personally."

Wrexham continue their unlikely bid to stay up when they take on Macclesfield Town, themselves not out of trouble, at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Grateful of the fans' support this season, Moss is hopeful of a big crowd against the Silkmen.

"We need as big a turnout as possible. It is not over and supporters need to get behind us," added Moss.

"We will do our best on Saturday and if the worst happens, we will do our best next season."

Wrexham reserves won 1-0 at Pontin's League leaders Preston last night thanks to a penalty from Alex Darlington.

The other encouraging news from the game was a 45-minute run-out for Steve Evans.

The Welsh international hasn't played since damaging knee ligaments in December.

Ask Brian

If you have a question for Brian Little email it to digitalnews@nwn.co.uk and we'll ask as many as we can during our next video interview with the Reds boss this Thursday.