Steve Cotterill unsure whether key players will stay at Cheltenham

Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill admitted after the 2-1 win at Barrow he did not know if the Robins can retain the services of goal scorers Hakeeb Adelakun and Ethon Archer.

Adelakun put the visitors in front with a first goal in eight games since signing a short-term deal from Salford in November.

And Luton loanee Archer wrapped up the points six minutes from time after Ben Whitfield’s fourth goal of the campaign equalised for managerless Barrow after 47 minutes.

Cheltenham’s second successive away win lifted them above the Cumbrians into 18th position as the revival under Cotterill continues.

“Would I like to keep him,” said Cotterill. “Of course I would.

“But you can never be confident about anything in this game. It is difficult to know what players are thinking, or what their agents are thinking.

“You don’t often get the complete truth out of them until the time comes. I said we were going to make the most of having him.

“But it will be up to him. If he doesn’t (want to stay) we will go and get someone else.

“It’s not these are the only boys left on the earth who play football.

“Would I like to keep them? Yes, I would. Perhaps, it might not be the case.

“It is the same with Arch. Football is a transitional sport: players come, players go, managers come, managers go. The only thing that stays are the supporters.

“I am only surprised it has taken ‘Haks’ as long as it has to score his first goal,” added Cotterill. “But I am delighted for him.

“It was a great goal by Arch as well. We had more control in the second half and it is nice to be winning and playing some good football as well.”

Interim boss Neil McDonald is still waiting for his first win since replacing Andy Whing earlier in the month.

But he expects to be in temporary charge for the Boxing Day trip to Accrington Stanley.

“I don’t know if they (club hierarchy) have been speaking to people or anyone has been formally spoken to,” said McDonald.

“All I have got to do is give them a bit of breathing space. And if we win some games and they are impressed by the way we play, which hopefully they were in the first half, apart from the goal, we will see what happens.

“We must keep on working because the harder you work the luckier you get.

“So, we need to keep putting the balls into the right areas and asking the right questions.

“At the same, we have to defend a lot better, both individually and as a team.”