UNDER fire Pontypool coach David Gray says he's no quitter and insists they can escape relegation from the Welsh Premier Division.

But Robert Beale, coach of Cross Keys who Pontypool entertain on Saturday, says they would not be doing their Gwent neighbours any favours and will do their utmost to win and cement a top eight spot.

Pontypool have slid to the bottom on the back of one win and two draws from their last 12 league games and this week some supporters threatened to distribute a petition at Saturday's game calling for the sacking of Gray and director of rugby Gareth Hale.

They later withdrew the threat, but it was hardly the most helpful time to raise the issue when the players need all the backing they can get.

And victory over a Cross Keys team currently in freefall after one win in eleven league and cup games is certainly not beyond them.

After that they face three more admittedly tough games against Newport, Swansea and champions Neath, but at least they have home advantage in them all - so their fate is in their own hands.

"It is going to be tough," admitted Gray, "but we defeated both Newport and Swansea away from home and should have won at Cross Keys, so we know we can do it.

"The players were not happy with last week's performance against Ebbw Vale and we have spoken about that and they are determined to put things right.

"I don't wish to comment really on this week's events off the field but I do understand the fans' frustration.

"However, it is my job to make sure the players are prepared in the best way possible for the crucial games ahead.

"I am not a quitter and genuinely believe, especially with four home games, that we can pick up the points we need to pull out of the bottom two - and the fans can play an important role.

"Pontypool are a proud club and we all want the same thing. We are not a bad little team and I don't believe I am a bad coach.

"We have not got a big, experienced squad and the loss of Andrew Coombes for the whole of the season and Scott Williams and David Smith in recent weeks have been huge blows.

"But I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. You have just got to get on with it and that's what I'll do."

Keys coach Beale commented: "I am really disappointed at the way things have gone in recent months.

"We played well against Newport last Saturday and led 18-12 going into the last 20 minutes and blew it. That seems to have been the story in several recent games though I can't fault the players' effort and commitment.

"We have suffered a lot of injuries and mostly to influential players and have been struggling desperately in the back row.

"But in the past we have sung the praises of the squad and we have to live by that squad.

"What we have to do now is keep the players as positive as we can and go to Pontypool to win the game and try to ensure we finish the season in a top eight spot.

"Nobody likes to see the position Pontypool are in and hopefully they would feel the same about us if we were in a similar position, but as coach I have a job to do for Cross Keys and we desperately want to end our losing run and finish the season on a positive note.

"It will be a very tough game on Saturday. Pontypool are fighting for their lives. I wish they weren't, but they are and there's nothing we can do about that. We can only do our very best on the day for Cross Keys."

Pontypool: D Smith, D Hitchcock, A Sliczney, S Williams, M Poole, S Mills, O Jones, N Giles, J Jude, N Blake, D Rosser, D Cox, P Sergeant, G Donaldson, G Lucas. Replacements: A Quick, N Daniels, J Viner, L Meades, L Burns, M Amos, G McCarthy. Kick-off 2.30pm.

Cross Keys: J Williams, N Williams, G Turner, R Williams, D Price, S Mitchell, G Betts, J Price, M Draper, C Gould, S Marasco, W Sims, W Jones, T Lampard, W Thomas. Replacements: R Cornock, D Evans, I George, D Miles, D Dark, D Tovey, R James.