Burscough 3 - 2 Gillingham

NEALE Cooper was left fearing the sack after Gillingham's humiliating exit from the FA Cup at tiny Burscough.

The Gills boss admitted he may be given the boot after his side's 3-2 defeat, which left chairman Paul Scally fuming at the inability of the players to perform against the Unibond League Premier Division minnows.

An exasperated Cooper described the reverse as his lowest point in management and accepted that it could have been one defeat too many.

He said after the game: "There are lows and there are lows and today was frightening. I'd love to stay here but we'll just have to wait and see.

"I'm a fighter but I'm not daft and what comes along comes along and that's football. I'm a big lad and if things aren't happening then unfortunately the buck stops with the manager.

"I'm feeling the lowest I've ever felt, that's me as a person, and I just wish some of the players felt how I felt. When the players go home and look in the mirror and say 'did I do my best' the majority can say they never - and that's what really hurts and that's upsetting.

"I'm a fighter, whatever. I thought one or two, maybe more players, were letting me down. They can talk a good game in the changing room but not perform. But there's nothing in reserve, so you have to play people because you have no options for others to come in.

"They (Burscough) celebrated and I left the door open to let the players hear it. That's not good enough for Gillingham, we've got to look at ourselves and see what happens."