GILLINGHAM striker Darren Byfield was quick to accept the players’ part in Neale Cooper's decision to leave Gillingham, admitting they badly let down their manager.

Byfield, speaking on the club’s official website, said: "Players have to look at themselves and say that we have not been good enough. At the moment it’s been boys against men and that can’t be right. Every single one of us should be ashamed of ourselves.

"Cooper gave us time off to respond when we didn’t deserve time off and we have let him down. We are not paying enough attention and we are so mentally and physically weak that we have just been getting bullied.

"It’s too easy for teams to come here. We have got to start sticking up for ourselves. It’s time for us to fight and be physically and mentally strong. Forget the excuses, it’s time to turn it around."

FOR THE FULL STORY, PLUS AN INTERVIEW WITH NEALE COOPER AND A PREVIEW AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S CLASH WITH HARTLEPOOL SEE THE SPORT SUPPLEMENT, FREE WITH THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER AND MEDWAY MESSENGER.* KENT ONLINE BRINGS YOU ALL THE CONFIRMED GILLS TEAM NEWS AHEAD OF KICK-OFF, A HALF-TIME UPDATE AND A FULL-TIME MATCH REPORT, PLUS REPORTS AND RESULTS FROM ALL THE OTHER GAMES INVOLVING THE COUNTY'S MAJOR SIDES, ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS.