'Relegation is something I never want again,' says Fleetwood defender

The Northern Ireland international experienced the drop from the Championship with Preston in 2011 and is determined to avoid a repeat.

Town sit a point above the League One drop zone going into tomorrow long trip to Southend, and McLaughlin is desperate for a turnaround in fortunes.

“A few of us here have experienced relegation and we don’t want to again,” he said.

“We’ve explained to the others that relegation is something you don’t want to experience We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Fleetwood go into tomorrow’s game in good spirits after Tuesday’s 2-0 Highbury win over Peterborough.

It was just reward for a Town side who many feel haven’t been getting the rub of the green in recent weeks.

To end a run of six games without a win has worked wonders. McLaughlin explained: “It’s given us real confidence, especially after the Swindon game, when we played well and didn’t win.

“But Tuesday’s win has to be just the start for us now.

“It’s good that we have our destiny in our own hands but we have to follow it up now.

“Everyone’s up for the fight and a lot can change in the six games. All sides in this league are inconsistent and can easily go on runs without a win. We need to keep going.”

Town are settled into their new Poolfoot Farm training base and hosted a VIP reception to officially open the venue last night.

And McLaughlin is full of praise for the facility, although it took a little time for him to find his bearings.

“When I first came here we were training at Fylde Rugby Club,” he explained.

“I came back from international duty and we had moved to the new facility. It felt like I’d joined a different club.

“On the first morning I was walking around lost, not knowing where to we changed or ate, but it’s a fantastic place to train.

“With everything the chairman has put into this club, we can’t get relegated. We have Championship- standard facilities here.”

McLaughlin comes up against a familiar face tomorrow in Southend boss Phil Brown.

He was Preston’s manager when the defender experienced relegation and the full-back said: “They would have expected to go to Blackpool and not lose, so they’ll be wanting to put that right We have to fight for our lives.”