Grazioli has the vision to help rescue Barnet

So one would expect Barnet boss Giuliano Grazioli to be cracking under pressure ahead of Saturday's crunch match with Port Vale considering he only joined the managerial ranks just over a month ago.

In fact, Grazioli's only other taste of professional coaching was his 19-day stint as Martin Allen's assistant before he controversially quit to take charge at Notts County, leaving Barnet to put their faith in the rookie boss.

For a man who is revered by Barnet fans having scored 65 goals in 147 appearances for them between 2003 and 2008, there is an added pressure on him to keep them up. The Bees have to win at Underhill and hope Lincoln fail to beat Aldershot or they will be relegated to the Conference and face an uncertain future.

However, Grazioli is handling the intensity of the situation having already bounced back from the abyss in his personal life.

Two years ago he had to retire from playing the game at the age of 34 because of an eye injury and such was the nature of the problem, no one was prepared to give him a job.

It was Barnet who came to his rescue last year by offering him a role with their community programme but the months of uncertainty he suffered before then is helping him cope with the situation now.

"I am feeling the stress and the pressure but knowing where I was 12 months ago does help put it into perspective a little bit," he said. "In fact, I am enjoying every minute of it.

"It's hard not to because this time last year I was out of work. Companies were reluctant to offer me anything and it was a worrying time for me and my family. But then I was offered a job by Barnet working in the community and it gave me an opportunity to go into local schools and coach. I was very grateful for that. I had an operation on my eyes eight months ago and everything is all clear now.

"Of course it has been a crazy period since then! I always saw myself as an assistant manager but after a brief time working with Martin Allen I have been thrown in at the deep end as the manager.

"Obviously, I didn't want it to be this deep but it's great to work for a club this close to my heart.

"The fact I am a fan of the club makes me feel it more. I feel the despair and the excitement the fans feel.

"I have been forgetting to shake the hands of the opposing manager because I'm on the pitch celebrating results with the fans."

Grazioli has had some reason to celebrate, collecting four precious points with a win over play-off chasers Gillingham and a draw with Oxford. Although his other two games have ended in defeat, both have been against top-five sides, Accrington and Bury.

Naturally, Grazioli may have to worry about finding work again along with many others at Barnet should they drop into the Conference. Cutbacks are inevitable but such thoughts are being ignored for now.

"It does dwell on your mind what could happen to the club if we go down but we will have to worry about that next week if it happens," he said. "We can't think about it now. We need to believe. I have tried to alleviate all the pressure away from the players. I have kept training bubbly, light and fun for the first few days so they're not worried about what's in store."

They will find it hard to ignore it on Saturday afternoon though, especially with Barnet's supporters listening out for any scores from Lincoln's game at Sincil Bank.

Grazioli believes it is vital his players just concentrate on picking up the win they need to give themselves a chance of salvation.

"We're going to have to try and avoid what is going on there," said the former striker. "Until the final whistle goes it doesn't make a difference. It might be nice to hear the crowd roaring knowing they're losing, but we need to win, nothing else will do for us.

"We don't want to go gung-ho from the start and leave ourselves open at the back. At the same time Lincoln need to win as well because it could come down to goal difference.

"I scored many goals in my career and helped Barnet win promotion to the Football League in 2005, but if I keep them up on Saturday it would be the greatest feeling."