By Pete Oliver

Jackson was appointed Lincoln boss in October 2007

The Jackson Five comeback tour is scheduled for later this year.

But at Lincoln City, they are already in full swing with their own planned revival.

There the theme tune is a five month step-by-step guide to survival and success in the Football League plotted by manager Peter Jackson.

"I've not done it before and it's a one-off. I just felt we needed a structure and a focus on where we want to be," Jackson told BBC Sport.

"If we had been a company in such a mess, in terms of our league position, we would have a structure and a plan to go forward."

We are moving in the right direction Peter Jackson

Broken down in a December to May plan of action, Jackson spelled out what he wants the club to achieve to get away from relegation trouble and look towards a brighter future.

The (Peter) Jackson Five songsheet reads:

Powerful words, and Jackson's message has struck a chord at Sincil Bank.

Everyone is into it. At a club of our size we all know we have to be in it together, the supporters, the board, the players, the staff and the groundstaff.

"At least you can see we are trying to have a go and we know where we want to be," he said.

We didn't have the best of Christmases but look where we were two months ago Peter Jackson

Any thoughts that Jackson may have been able to inspire Lincoln to a dramatic surge up the table towards play-off contention look to have been tempered.

But having been appointed at the end of October with City stuck in the League Two relegation zone, keeping them up will represent success and provide the chance to rebuild on firmer foundations.

"When I took over they were bottom of the league. I knew it would be a tough challenge and it certainly is.

"But I am enjoying it and we are moving in the right direction," Jackson said.

I had to lift the confidence and the spirits Peter Jackson

The former Huddersfield manager, who has enjoyed promotion from this division before, was hired after a team that staggered into fifth place last season had nosedived further on the back of just two wins in their first 15 games of the current campaign.

He added: "If you look at the last five years they have been in the play-offs and then they have been in the bottom half of the table for most of this season.

"It's a situation they are not used to. I had to lift the confidence and the spirits. It had been three months since they won a game. The players were low and the club was low. It was important to pick everybody up."

Jackson, who brought in former Newcastle team-mate Neil McDonald as his assistant, also had to do it largely with the hand he was dealt, with just three loan signings altering his squad to date.

"I can't clear 10 out and get 10 in. There is not a lot of money and I have to be careful with the budget. I have got a couple in on loan and hopefully they won't be the last."

At least you can see we are trying to have a go and we know where we want to be Peter Jackson

Under Jackson, Lincoln tasted victory at the fourth time of asking and since then have won three times more to earn some breathing space above the bottom two, leaving the manager satisfied with their progress and confident that the primary objective of survival will be met.

"We can do better. We didn't have the best of Christmases but look where we were two months ago," Jackson said.

"We have moved up, we got our first clean sheet since August and we are unbeaten in 2008.

"There is a big belief right through from me to the players, to the supporters and everybody that we can do it."