Celtic were consigned to a bottom-four finish following their 4-1 defeat at York City on Tuesday night – but history proves nothing is decided until the last rites are read.

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For the past four seasons teams at the bottom of the Conference have escaped the drop due to off-field interventions.

Altrincham have earned a reprieve for the past two campaigns and Firbank is urging Celtic to beat Grays at Throstle Nest tomorrow (kick-off 5.15pm) to give them a chance of leapfrogging the Cheshire side, who are currently fourth-bottom, and put them in the best possible position to benefit from any last-minute
hitches.

Firbank said: "I've told the manager and the players to prepare for tomorrow's game as though it is the biggest game of the season and take it from there.

"We have to try and finish fourth-bottom now because teams in the past have got out of it from there.

"There is a lot of speculation at the moment that there could be issues with other teams and as far as we're concerned the trapdoor might move.
"Our aim has to be to finish as high as we can because there are always twists and turns in this league at the end of the season."

Scarborough's enforced relegation for an unspecified breach of the rules, along with Canvey Island's resignation from the league, got Altrincham off the hook in 2006 – after they had finished rock-bottom.

The Cheshire side then finished in the final relegation spot 12 months ago, only to earn a second reprieve due to Boston United's double demotion.

In 2005 Forest Green escaped after finishing in the final relegation berth when Northwich Victoria, who were nine points clear of the drop zone, were demoted for failing to transfer their membership of the Conference from the company that went into administration to the club's new owners by May 31.

And Northwich themselves were one of three clubs to get off the hook in 2004, along with Farnborough Town and Leigh RMI, due to financial and ground problems at other Conference clubs.

Celts boss John Deacey has got the message loud and clear. He had his players in for training yesterday morning and will do so again this evening.
Awful

Even if there are no back-door escapes to be had, he wants a win to reward the fans for their magnificent support throughout the campaign.

Deacey said: "I had the lads in for three hours yesterday morning, and they needed picking up after Tuesday.

"I have never been in a dressing room like that before. It was an awful dressing room to be in.

"The players had absolutely given their all in the second half. They dropped themselves in it in the first half, giving two goals away, but got themselves back in it and got punished going for the result. They were absolutely gutted.

"But we have to start again now. Yesterday's session was difficult, but we trained hard and we will have another session tonight and then do the best we can tomorrow.

"We have got to finish on a high. We have got to lift ourselves, get on with it and hopefully there may be a lifeline at the end.
"Even if there isn't, it would be lovely to get a win for the fans.

"They have never turned on us all season, they have been brilliant to the players and brilliant to myself. They have been a credit to the club and it would be lovely to get a win for them to say thankyou because some of them have travelled a long, long way to support us home and away."

Celtic will give fitness tests to centre-backs Georges Santos and Mark Jackson tomorrow and Deacey is hoping at least one of them gets the all-clear to play.