by Matthew Panting

Furious Welling manager Andy Ford has told his players to shape up or ship out.

The Wings boss blasted his squad after their second defeat in two games on Tuesday, 3-2 at Thurrock.

Ford apologised to the Welling fans for his team’s abject display and kept his team locked in the dressing room long after the final whistle.

“There was not enough passion and desire for me,” said Ford. “I’ve let them have it.

“I told them exactly what I thought of them and they won’t be around me for much longer if they keep putting in performances like that – on contract or not, they’ll be out the door.

“It has hurt me massively. We should have been 5-0 down at half-time.”

Ford singled out individuals in his side and could only find praise for substitute Jake Hobbs, who will start the game at Bath this weekend.

“We were bullied at the back and I don’t mind naming names either as I’ve just done it in there,” fumed the Wings boss.

“I thought Jack Parkinson and Steve King were bullied, very weak both of them. It was a hard debut for Micky Haswell to come into but I thought he did okay.

“The midfield got bullied, Lee Clarke up top is not fit yet but I keep saying he has to get himself fit. My missus has got more movement than him at the moment so he has to buck his ideas up.

“The pleasing thing was Jake. He deserves a big pat on the back and a lot of praise.

“He has impressed me every time he comes on and he’ll be first on the team sheet for Saturday.

“He has passion, desire and puts himself about, that’s what I like. People who want to play for me have got to have that.”

Ford also explained his actions at half-time, when he emerged five minutes before his team and sat motionless on the away dugout.

“If I had stayed in there longer I’d have killed somebody,” he said. “There were a few things being thrown around and I had to get out as I told them exactly what I thought.

“I’ve ripped into them and told them exactly what I thought.

“I was embarrassed for the supporters. I told the players that I’m creeping out of here with my head down.”