Grimsby manager Paul Groves insisted he would not quit the Mariners after his side fell apart at fellow strugglers Oldham.
The Latics raced into a five-goal lead before half time and pulled off their biggest win of the season to mark the end of their financial crisis.
Oldham's new owners, whose takeover was confirmed last week, threw open the gates, giving free entry to all fans on a special Celebration Sunday.
The team responded superbly as Scott Vernon bagged a glorious hat trick - but not everybody at Boundary Park was happy.
Groves admitted: "We have to face facts and accept this is a relegation dogfight. We will need extreme hard work to turn things round and, yes, we have let in fifteen goals in three away games.
"I'm sure the speculation over my future will carry on but I have always been a fighter throughout my playing days and that will not change.
"We need to show belief in ourselves and each other and we can get out of trouble." Vernon began his demolition job with a magnificent goal from the corner of the penalty area, which he bent inside the far post for his tenth of the season.
Within minutes, ten became 11 as Vernon drilled into the opposite corner following good work by impressive midfielder Danny Boshell.
Grimsby had no answer to the home team's attacking flair and it was 3-0 when young left-back Adam Griffin claimed his first senior goal from another Boshell assist.
Griffin hooked an ambitious shot back over his shoulder at the far post and watched the ball loop over the stranded keeper.
Jermaine Johnson made it 4-0 when he hit a low shot from twenty yards which appeared to go through the hands of Town keeper Aidan Davison and Vernon's hat-trick was complete as he stabbed in from close range from a Paul Murray cross.
By that stage, Grimsby were down to ten men after defender Michael Edwards saw red for pulling back Johnson outside the box.
And their misery was complete five minutes form time when substitute Calvin Zola tucked in from six yards for his seventh goal of the season.