Trevor: It's Total Commitment

Trevor Brooking says he is going to give the job of caretaker manager his attention 24 hours a day until the end of the season.

While the Chadwell Heath training ground may be unfamiliar to him, being out on the grass is - and he is loving it.

He says: "I went out with the players in an extra large track suit, I might add!

"It was just a case of keeping the work going that Glenn has done with Roger and Paul and we were trying to get the players to relax and enjoy it a bit, to take the tension out of it.

"The first transitional day like yesterday is always difficult, especially in this situation, but it was a good reaction, the spirit was excellent, which is what I expected, and we are into it now with everything to go to in the next two and a half weeks."

He spoke to his family before committing himself to the task, and he adds: "I have cancelled everything for that period of time. You either do it, or you don't, and it is not a problem.

"My family is committed to the club anyway and goes to the games. It is has just been an unbelievable few days that you could never have anticipated, and I think we are all moving into the different reactions that you have to make with so little time between now and the end of the season.

"It is a huge, crucial period for the club in the next two and a half weeks and no one is under any illusions about the challenge that we have all got.

"We now have to focus on, first of all Sunday, and then trying to get the maximum return, which is getting nine points.

Trevor has now had the chance to talk to Paolo Di Canio about the current situation, as he said he would do, and he says: "The situation on Paolo is that he is not fit. He has had a gastric problem all week, but I have now spoken to him; we had a very good chat, and he is very supportive.

"I have told him that as soon as he is fit he will come in and he will give the club every support. There are no guarantees on selection, and he is quite happy with that.

"If he can contribute for no minutes, ten minutes or 90 minutes at any stage then a fit Paolo will contribute, but it is up to him to get fit - and until that happens there is no decision to be made.

"We are trying to win three games and I am sure that at some stage, with half an hour to go, you want as many attacking options as you can get, so if Paolo is fit he can win you a game."

Trevor admits he wishes he was still out on the field rather than being in the dugout on Sunday, against his old friend and former England colleague Kevin Keegan - who once played with Glenn Roeder at Newcastle.

"To be honest, I'd prefer to be playing because then it is in your hands, but the next best thing is to try and galvanise everyone into getting the result everyone wants - though I don't think anyone in our dressing room will need motivating.

"This is an unprecedented situation and there are three massive games ahead for the club and its future - we need three wins.

"Everyone is behind us. Eastenders are very loyal people and we tend to close ranks.

"The reaction over the last 48 hours has been fantastic and in the next two and a half weeks we have got to do ourselves justice.

"Whatever happens in that time, the priority is for Glenn to make a full recovery and to get better - that is the number one.

"But we owe it to everyone who has put the work in for the last nine and a half months to try and get three wins.

"Sunday's game is crucial because if we get three points we are up and running, and we are trying to focus on that; no-one in the club is unaware of what is needed and we'll do our utmost.

"For nine and a half months it has been an uphill struggle and we want to make sure that if we go down then we have given our all."