Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has told several of his players to stay away from the club.

Lovell had a meeting with his squad on Thursday morning and sent some of them home, ordering them to stay away, having been given the backing by chairman Paul Scally to do what he felt was necessary.

The Gills were beaten 3-1 by bottom side Plymouth on Tuesday night, producing a poor first half showing, one which Mr Scally felt was an embarrassment to the club.

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Gillingham have won just one league game in their last 12 and Tuesday’s first half shocker was the final chance for some.

Lovell said: “The past couple of days have been a nightmare, the worst since I have been in the job. The chairman said the first half (at Plymouth) was embarrassing and I agree.

“People were not trying, not pulling their weight and not wearing the badge with pride. It was disrespectful to the 200-odd supporters that went there, it was poor.

“A lot of harsh words have been said since then and we have to now get over it and get on with Saturday (at home to Bradford).

“I have sent some players home, I have actually told them to go away, to not be around the football club and the chairman has given me the full backing to do that. He has left it up to me to make decisions. There are only so many chances you can give to people.”

Lovell decided against naming those who he had sent away, but admitted it would soon become apparent, with those players unlikely to be featuring against Bradford this weekend.

“I have told them to sort themselves out,” Lovell said.

“I am not having people around here who are not going to perform and who are not putting in the effort. It is disrespectful to the supporters, the club, the chairman, myself and the fellow players.

“A lot of truths have been said and it needed to be done. Hopefully they will learn and if they do, all well and good, if they don’t it is down to them. I can’t hang around for people to perform.”

What has frustrated Lovell is the performance levels during games, having put faith in players to do a job.

“It’s the whole package,” he said.

“As a professional footballer it is not just about doing well in training and then on a Saturday it all goes out the window. If you can’t handle it then don’t be involved. So many excuses are made by players these days but they have to look at themselves.

“The majority of them are really good lads who want success but there are a few who have let us down.

“The ones who haven’t been sent home, they have to show a little bit of pride and respect for everyone, otherwise they won’t be in the team either.

“We have had to make a stand as a club and that is the only way to do things. The chairman has backed me 100%. We have to do it because we are in a critical situation.

“All I am asking is for professional footballers to be professional, to wear the badge with pride and give everything. People who have a go, I have time for, but if they are not going to put the effort in and the performance they are no good for me.

“The ones still here have to show me they want to play. If not I will put the youngsters in because they will run around and have a go. It gets to a point where that is the sensible thing to do.”

The Gills have a run of home games coming up and a chance to climb out of trouble. They are just a point and a place outside the relegation zone and Lovell knows the results have to change.

He said after Tuesday's game that his future lies with the club chairman, and that he hopes he gets time to turn things around.

“We have always had a good relationship,” said the manager.

“We have been very honest. I am not stupid but all I can do is try and change it and It will change.”

Asked how others in the squad have reacted, he said: “I don’t care how they take it, it is up to them, it is all about them showing me they want to play for this football club.

“The other night five or six turned up and the others didn't, they let us down. There has been some harsh words and some very honest words and it’s up to them. If they haven’t taken it in a positive way then those people don’t matter to me.

“I have given people opportunities and it hasn't worked.

“I am not giving this up lightly. I love this job and working for this club and I am not going to let certain people get in my way.”