Owner Colin Horton and team manager Trevor Swales are refusing to write off the current campaign as a failure despite the club being marooned at the wrong end of the table and already being condemned to three defeats on home territory.

Swindon became the latest team to triumph at Alwalton when bagging a 48-42 success last night. It was a result that took the victors back to the top of the Elite League standings, but left Panthers only one point off the bottom.

However, the Panthers hierarchy have no plans to be involved in the first relegation battle of the modern era. They are intent on finding the solution to the club's sorry form and still believe the play-offs are a realistic target.

Swales said: "If I knew the answer I would have done it by now, but what I do know is that we are not happy to be in this position and want to go forward as quickly as possible.

"As a management team myself, Colin and co-promoter Mick Bratley will be sitting down and looking at ways we can improve things. We have to knuckle down and make sure the second half of the season is a whole lot better than the first.

"I still believe we are capable of getting ourselves into the play-offs but we can't afford to be out-ridden on our own track if that is going to happen."

Those sentiments were echoed by Horton who remains hungry for more glory after leading the club to a hat-trick of play-off finishes since taking charge in May 2005.

He said: "We have enjoyed a lot of success since I took control of the club and there will be plenty more as well.

"We have endured a tough first half of the season but we will get better. I still think we have the makings of a top four team and I will be challenging the riders to prove I am right."

Panthers now face successive away matches at Ipswich (Thursday) and Belle Vue (Monday).