GILLINGHAM manager Ronnie Jepson called on his players to improve or face the axe following Saturday’s defeat to Northampton.

Despite the club’s slender squad, Jepson had to remind his players that nobody will be guaranteed a starting place after witnessing a third straight loss.

Jepson has yet to chop and change but after a trio of defeats the manager may soon be forced to wield the axe.

He stressed; "I need more from my players than what I have seen," he said. "I hope the players don’t get too complacent because their place is not under too much threat with the size of our squad.

"They are not nailed down in that shirt and I told them that in the dressing room.

"It is back to the base-camp and back to doing the things that we started off the season doing well and hopefully the goals will come."

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER