STRIKER Marc McGregor says Worcester City’s players do not deserve to be paid following the FA Cup debacle at Godalming Town.
The St George’s Lane club fell at the first hurdle in the competition for the second time in five seasons with a humiliating 2-1 defeat in Surrey that also cost them £4,500 in prize money.
Manager Carl Heeley said the result against the Ryman League Division One South side, 41 places below City in the non-league pyramid, was the lowest point of his career.
But McGregor, who was re-placed at half-time by eventual goalscorer Luke Corbett, insists the players have to take the blame for an ‘unacceptable’ display.
The 33-year-old, one of the club’s senior players and also part of the coaching staff, accused his team-mates of failing to carry out instructions and reckons they should not get their wages.
He said: “Once we cross that white line the players, myself included, have a responsibility to always give 110 per cent. I am not saying some lads did not do that but the performance wasn’t acceptable on Saturday.
“The reason we lost was because 11 players did not perform. I find it difficult to single anyone out who played well. They let the supporters and the club down.
“I can understand passing the ball and giving it away but not showing any passion when you put on a Worcester shirt is not acceptable.
“People travelled a long way to watch the game and if it was myself I would struggle to find a reason why anybody should get paid, but that’s my opinion.”
McGregor added: “Set-pieces are put on the board (in the dressing room) and people are not reading them before they go out. They are not doing their jobs.
“Some of the lads need to face up to the fact that they have let the club down. Whether they want to hear it or not, it’s unacceptable. Some need to have a long look in the mirror.
“It does hurt them but it needs to hurt as much when they are playing. There’s no point coming off with regrets.”
The striker, in his third season with the club, is now demanding the players roll their sleeves up and produce a display to be proud of when they visit Blue Square Bet North strugglers Blyth Spartans on Saturday.
He said: “Going away to Blyth, considering where each team is in the league, I expect us not to get beaten and to put in nothing less than a workman-like performance.”
Meanwhile, left-back Asa Charlton has joined Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side Leamington after leaving City because of travelling commitments with his new job.
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