BARROW boss Phil Wilson could have more riding on the outcome of tomorrow's FA Cup tie than his Cherries counterpart Kevin Bond.

Despite guiding the Bluebirds into the first round for the second year in succession, Wilson's tenure at Holker Street is hanging in the balance.

Voted out of the Football League in 1972, the Cumbria-based outfit is in serious danger of dropping another rung on the non-league pyramid.

Barrow set up their date with Cherries by seeing off lower league pair Colwyn Bay and Fleetwood Town before loftier opponents Farsley Celtic were beaten in a fourth qualifying round replay.

But despite their FA Cup heroics - all on home soil - Barrow have failed to win in the Blue Square North since beating Southport 1-0 on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Their predicament worsened when they sank deeper into the relegation mire following a dismal 1-0 home defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Hinckley six days ago.

Hinckley's first win of the season heaped more pressure on Wilson, with Barrow chairman Brian Keen pulling no punches regarding the once-proud club's plight.

Speaking following the Hinckley reverse, Keen said: "Our fans are very knowledgeable and we are not trying to camouflage the league position. It's a catch-22 situation - we are days away from the biggest game for a long time yet it was like a wet fish had hit us on Saturday.

"The game flattened everyone. I spoke to one or two afterwards and the feeling was not to do anything too hasty. The directors are fully aware that, away from the cup, is a big black cloud in the league and we are facing up to it. We are not blinkered or running away from the issue of the manager's future."

Wilson, appointed in December 2005, was without three key players against Hinckley, with Darren Sheridan, Steve McNulty and Dave Bayliss all set to return from respective suspensions to face Cherries.

"I'm not a quitter and will keep on going," said Wilson. "You know things can turn around quickly in football - you just get on with it. There will be no problems lifting the players for the cup game against Bournemouth."

Based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness, the club became founder members of the Third Division (North) in 1921 and remained in the lowest tier of the Football League for all but three seasons.

Their FA Cup third round clash against the then league champions Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1959 is their most notable match in the competition.

The part-timers train for two evenings a week and will also include ex-Brentford striker Kevin Rapley against Cherries.

While combative midfielder Sheridan, 39, played in the top flight with Barnsley, Barrow's jewel in the crown is defender McNulty, a summer signing from Vauxhall Motors who is attracting the attention of league clubs.