FORMER Forest Green Rovers favourite Alex Sykes believes they have the best man for the job in Jim Harvey to get them out of relegation trouble, writes Rob Iles.

The Rednock school teacher, who currently plays for Gloucester City in the Southern Premier League, has looked on with great interest as his old club have slid from top of the table into the relegation zone of the Blue Square Premier after 12 games without a win.

Harvey has enjoyed the adulation of Rovers fans after leading their great escape in the 2006/07 campaign before taking them to their highest ever finish of eighth place in the Football Conference last season. But ever since he won the manager of the month award in August, Forest Green have struggled and now lie in the bottom four.

Sykes made over 100 appearances for Rovers in two spells at the old Lawn ground before finally leaving in September 2004, and having survived a few relegation battles with them in the past, he believes it would be a good season if they retained their Conference status.

He was a trainee at Hereford United whilst Harvey was still playing, and admitted he's a huge fan of the Ulsterman and backed him to turn things around.

"It has been difficult it's since the curse of manager of the month," said Sykes.

"Everyone knows Forest Green have a limited fan base of 700 or 800 up there. It's difficult to keep the club going so it's a case of survival."

"I think because they were so close to the play-offs last year and they started this season so well the fans want more of that but it's always difficult.

"There will probably be a few daggers out for him (Harvey) now but if he left it would be a difficult job to step into.

"If they stay in the Conference it will be a success. I remember our first two seasons in that league when we stayed up on the last day of the season and it felt like we won the cup final.

"Jim likes to concentrate on the youth which is good for local players and as a teacher you know they will get a good chance there.

"He is one of the best bosses to be in that job at a smaller club because it's never been a fashionable club so he will be great for that."

Sykes has also tipped his former Gloucester City team-mate Mike Symons to bang in the goals at Forest Green.

The 22-year-old striker scored six goals in seven games for the Tigers earlier this season before Harvey took him to the New Lawn.

"I think it was a very good move for him," said Sykes.

"We're disappointed he did not stay with us but he's big, strong, powerful, good with the ball at his feet and I think he'll do very well for them."

"Jim will be brilliant for him with his experience it will help him out no end. He's a very good acquisition for Forest Green."

"With the right people around him, he could be up there in the goalscoring charts and push for the top three or four in that league.

"He might not be as good as Stuart Fleetwood and hasn't got the natural pace that Fleets has but because of his size he's a good target."