TONBRIDGE chairman Paul Dainty sent a clear message to his players when he withheld their wages after their 4-1 capitulation at Windsor.

The Longmead boss said that the players justified such a poor performance, they were not entitled to be paid.

The players did collect their money at Tuesday’s training session but this did little to dampen Dainty’s fire.

“Some of the players out there simply didn’t look like they wanted to fight for the cause,” he stressed. “It was as if they said, ‘I’m here to pick up my money and I don’t care if the club gets relegated’.

“Maybe it was a bit impetuous but we’re fighting for our lives and working hard all week to pay their wages. They need to earn them.”

Dainty said he took the defeat personally, adding: “To see a club I’m responsible for perform like that is very hard to take.

“It isn’t even that difficult to get out of the situation we’re in - it’s still only four points, a win and a draw.

“I don’t want to hear words from the players, I want to see actions. There’s no reason we should have lost to that team.”

Dainty feels he has now made his point, saying this was a one-off incident that won’t be repeated.

And Angels manager Tony Dolby offered his support, saying he sympathised with his Chairman’s actions.

“I fully understand Paul’s frustrations and feel them as much, if not more, than he does,” said Dolby. “I was still wrapped up in the game when it happened so didn’t really know what was going on but I don’t think it’s a major problem.

“Hopefully it will make people sit up and realise how much performances like that hurt Paul and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Dolby said the post-match debrief was much the same as usual although he did admit to addressing some players individually.

“The players were fine with it and accepted responsibility for what happened,” he said.

“There’s no animosity or ill-feeling. They need to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and go again this week.

“We do hit peaks but our troughs seem to be bad at the moment.

“It wasn’t acceptable on Saturday by a long shot, but I can’t harp on about it.

“Games are running out and we missed an opportunity on Saturday. But I’m certainly not going to look back, that’s for sure.”