COACH Steve Jones has vowed to carry on in charge at Pontypool - despite admitting the pressure of the job has given him sleepless nights.

And despite the big-spending club suffering three shock First Division defeats already this season, he remains adamant they can turn things round.

Pooler splased out on several high-profile names such as former Wales pair Byron Hayward and Mark Jones and other ex- Premier players such as Lenny Woodard, Jonathan Hawker, Stephen John and Alun Phillips in the close season.

As a result, they were expected to make the early running before launching a bid for a Welsh/Scottish League play-off spot at the end of the campaign.

But after a promising start, including an opening game defeat of last season's champions Aberavon, they lost to Llandovery and Treochy before a disastrous defeat by bottom club Whitland last Friday.

"We were told at the start we had to do something this season because it was not known if the WRU would move the goalposts again," said Jones.

"So the pressure was already there before our recent results.

"It has been very disappointing and I have felt the pressure. I have heard what some people have been saying. I live in Pontypool and go round the town and see the disappointment of people.

"My wife will tell you I have had many sleepless nights.

"I believe both myself as coach and the players have to accept we have not done the job as well as we should have done.

"I have never worked to a contract but I have never shirked responsibility either. "I will continue to work hard to put things right and I believe the coaching team can still do that. It is still early days and we can still be up their challenging.

"In past seasons we were regarded as relegation material and we proved people wrong. We can do so again."

Jones said it was still the case that most teams in the First Division still regarded their scalp as the one they wanted.

"Every team fights tooth and nail against us because of our past reputation," he said, "and if they don't win another game, they are happy as long as the beat us."

He also said the fixture list hadn't helped them this season either with the teams they play having a week off beforehand and thus having more time to spy on them and prepare. But he also accepted that some of Pontypool's ex-Premier players had not realised how intense it could be in the First Division and in some areas had not yet adapted.

"There is no divine right that we should win," said Jones. "We have to work hard and do the right things.

"In fact we have to work harder now, but we will do that."

*PICTURED: Pontypool has suffered without the services of Bryon Hayward who is now back.