TOWN'S board are delighted with progress at the club.

While Peter Jackson's side are without a win in six matches, chairman Ken Davy and his colleagues will be nothing but upbeat at their scheduled December meeting.

Chief executive Andrew Watson will report booming commercial trade in the build up to Christmas, while the Blue and White Foundation and On the Move lottery are also thriving this season.

And the directors have full faith in manager Peter Jackson and his hard-working staff to turn around fortunes on the field, starting at Swindon on Wednesday (7.45).

"We have had a tough few weeks results wise, but you've always got to look at the bigger picture," said Watson today.

"Exactly a year ago, we were ninth in the old Third Division having been knocked out of the Cups and with only one win in the whole of November and December, so if you'd said then we'd be in the position we are now, you would happily have taken it.

"We have enjoyed a promotion since then and are only four points off the play-off placings in the higher division, so I think we have to acknowledge the fact that Peter Jackson, Terry Yorath and all the football staff through the Reserves and Academy have done a magnificent job.

"I have been a Town supporter since I was five, I played the game at League level and I've been on the business side for 15 years and I can honestly say we are very much heading in the right direction.

"All clubs have spells like the one we are just going through and everything I've learned down the years tells me we will bounce back.

"We got Peter on a three-year contract at the end of last season because we want to be a top 30 club by our centenary in 2008, and we will achieve that goal.

"Peter is doing a fantastic job with a talented young squad and we are doing all the right things on that front as well by getting our best young lads, like Nathan Clarke, on extended contracts.

"Best of all, we know we've got a really tremendous spirit in the club and that everyone will pull together to get us to where we want to be.

"There's a great atmosphere among the office staff and the commercial teams as well as a brilliant relationship between everyone in the dressing room, and that can only stand us in good stead.

"It's fine for everyone to enjoy it when things are going well, but it's times like this when you really need everyone to stick together to pull through - and we will at this club."

Mr Watson reported trade in the Stadium Superstore and Sporting Pride shops was "absolutely booming" while the Foundation and lottery were pulling in increased revenue.

"We said at the outset we would be putting the basics back in place instead of bombarding the fans with all sorts of new fund-raising ideas, and that's exactly what we've done," he said.

"A lot of hard work has been done with a talented staff to get the shops up and running to the stage they are now and to expand the lottery and Foundation.

"We have done that and we're really pleased, but we have also got our feet on the ground and we know there's still a lot of hard work ahead."