HOW useful an addition would Pawel Abbott be in the long term - does he have what it takes to take us on in Division II? David McGrath

Jacko says: PAV is a great prospect and has already come in and done very well for us.

When you also take into consideration the fact that he is only 21 and has a good goalscoring record, it's clear he would make a great addition to our squad.

He hasn't played that many League games, but he is well thought of over at Preston.

We're not talking of a journeyman who has been at four or five clubs. He has his whole career ahead of him, he will only get better, and we're hoping he becomes a permanent fixture.

He likes the club, the area, the rest of the players and the tremendous support we have been enjoying, and that can only be to our advantage.

HOW is it we can comprehensively beat our closest rivals like Yeovil and Oxford, but falter against teams at the other end of the table, like Darlington and Carlisle? Jane Leonard

Jacko says: I SUPPOSE people will look back at our last 14 matches and say that, but I don't see it as being a pattern.

Both the Darlington and Carlisle games could easily have ended in victory, but we didn't take our chances on the day (or night).

Up at Carlisle, Andy Booth had two great opportunities, only for their goalkeeper Matt Glennon to pull off two tremendous saves.

As I said afterwards, he always seems to play well against us.

If either had produced a goal, I think we would have gone on to record comfortable victories.

They didn't, and we ended up losing both matches, but that's only two defeats in 14 and not many teams boast 100% records.

You do get the odd blip here and there, and ours happen to have been against teams at the wrong end of the table.

We have the opportunity to put the record straight when we host Macclesfield, who are second bottom, tomorrow and Rochdale, third from bottom, on Tuesday.

We will pay both sides respect, because, like Carlisle, they are battling for their Football League survival, and that's a powerful driving force.

But we are battling for a place in Division II, which is a powerful driving force as well, and we have to show that we deserve to be where we are in the table.

If you look at our remaining 11 matches, only four (Northampton away, Swansea at home, Hull away and Mansfield at home are against sides currently in the top 10.

I've told the players that our fate is very much in our own hands and, of course, automatic promotion is the aim.

There's certainly no question marks against the hunger of the players. We just have to go out and play the way we know we can.

HOW long does Paul Rachubka's loan spell last for, and if he impresses, will you try to make it a permanent signing? Peter Stroyan.

WHAT was the reason behind dropping Phil Senior at Oxford and replacing him with Paul Rachubka? Tracy Sanderson.

Jacko says: I'LL take these two questions together, because there's an obvious link.

I've been delighted with Phil Senior, but I think that over the last few weeks, we've needed another goalkeeper in the squad, and now we know Ian Gray is set to be out all season, we certainly needed to act.

Paul Rachubka has come in from Charlton, and in the two games he has played so far, I think he has done ever so well.

That, of course, doesn't discount Phil Senior, because that's what competition for places is all about.

Paul is initially here for a month, and we'll see how he goes over the next few weeks before deciding whether to take things any further.

As for the decision to play Paul rather than Phil against Oxford and Carlisle, it was down to tactics.

I thought Phil needed a rest. He has been in to see me a couple of times and we've discussed it fully.

AT Carlisle, much of Paul Rachubka's kicking was inaccurate. When Senior is in goal, many of his kicks find Andy Booth's head or chest. Many of Rachubka's kicks were the start of Carlisle attacks. What do you think? Martin Manchester

Jacko says: PERHAPS one or two went astray up at Carlisle, but that's unusual for Paul, because kicking, whether from hand or a backpass, and distribution in general, is one of his big strengths.

What kind of approach and tactics do you use to psyched up the squad just before kick-off? Matthew Wharton.

Jacko says: WE use a number of methods.

Much has been made of playing Rock the Casbah by The Clash in the dressing room.

The lads have always been into their music, but some of them prefer rap and all the rest of it, so I thought we needed a change!

We always have a huddle just before we leave the dressing room and again before we go out at half-time, because we are a close-knit squad, and we find it helps us focus on what's ahead.

Of course part of being a manager is knowing what makes each player tick.

Some don't need any individual attention, some need an arm around their shoulders or a boot up the backside, and I like to think I know who needs what.

We have got a lot of young players, so the more senior ones like Andy Booth, Efe Sodje and Ian Yates play an important role in geeing up the others.

WHICH player had the biggest influence on you when you were coming into the side as a teenager at Bradford City? John Field.

Jacko says: I WOULD have to say big Steve Baines, the former Town centre-back who was at Bradford in the late Seventies.

He was an influential player both on and off the pitch, and the fact that I had the honour of being made captain while still a teenager had a lot to do with Steve.

Being a centre-back, he took an interest in me, and he started giving me advice well before I got to play alongside him in the first team.

I learned a huge amount from him, both tactically and in terms of being a captain.

Steve finished off his playing career at Scunthorpe and Chesterfield, and then became a League referee, on occasions taking charge of games I played in!

I think he was an excellent referee, and I would certainly like to see more former professionals taking up the whistle and being fast-tracked through the system.