MANAGER John Barton is threatening to axe several of his under-performing players in a summer reshuffle after their latest defeat to struggling Ilkeston.

The Worcester City boss has seen his side's hopes of a top two finish virtually disappear following a poor run of results which has seen them slip to sixth place in the Dr Martens Premier Division and win just one game in their last seven.

Barton now admits he faces a bigger job in the summer than he first realised and has challenged his players to perform in the last four games or face a sharp exit.

"I have assessed the situation over the last few weeks and I have to own up to getting it wrong," he said.

"I had said that I didn't think too much needed to be done to the squad but I've changed my mind -- there is in fact lots to be done.

"The message to the players, contracted or not, is I will press on trying to strengthen the team. If they are with me great but the only way I'll know if they are serious is by observation of their performance on the pitch.

"At the moment some of them are coming up well short -- even the ones who had previously fostered a good impression are turning it into a negative one. If they don't want to come with us they can move on."

Despite an appalling run of injuries, which continued with Allan Davies limping off at Ilkeston, Barton has been unimpressed with his side's recent attitude which was summed up by conceding two goals in two minutes in Saturday's 3-2 defeat.

The St George's Lane manager kept his players behind for more than an hour as he ripped into his squad and admitted he didn't care if his players were offended by what he'd said.

"They've quite rightly earned plenty of plaudits this season but they have to take criticism when it is right," he added.

City's immediate prospects for Saturday's clash with Bath City are already looking bleak with David Foy and Dan Jones suspended, while Davies is out for the rest of the season.

Bath staved off relegation at St George's Lane last season with final game 1-0 win.