FURIOUS Ernie Howe has read the riot act to his Basingstoke Town side and warned under-performing players they will be shipped out if they don't shape up.

The angry Blues boss kept his team locked inside their changing room for an hour after their shambolic 2-0 defeat to basement side Carshalton Athletic on Saturday.

Howe initially vented his disgust over a display that lacked passion, fight and desire - but he became more riled after he felt some players showed an unwillingness to accept responsibility for their poor showing.

Howe, his assistant Pete Peters and coach Steve Richardson - ex-professionals with years of experience - were all unhappy with the attitude displayed by some of the team towards their given instructions, advice and criticism.

When a dismayed Howe emerged from giving the rollicking, his still raw emotions meant he declined to speak on the record to The Gazette.

Instead, assistant manager and ex-Crystal Palace defender Peters revealed the extent of the dressing room dressing down.

He said: "We are extremely disappointed with some of the players. I'm not naming names, but those players know who they are and they've been told, in no uncertain terms, that their futures are on the line.

"The truth is some don't have the stomach for it. In a game we knew would be a real battle, they didn't have enough commitment or effort.

"There's no way that should happen after a 10-day or two-week break like some players had. They should be raring to go. Instead we got the opposite."

He added: "We desperately need to bring in some fresh faces and, over the next week, we'll be trying hard to get the two or three players we want in.

"If they come in, then players will be going out, because that is the reality of our financial situation. But it's clear we need to do it, and quickly."

At the crux of the Town management duo's disappointment is the fact that both fear all the good work in achieving and maintaining the side's position among the Nationwide South play-off places will unravel.

Peters said: "That's the big worry and we've got to stop the rot we've had since Christmas or we'll finish somewhere like 10th place. One point from the last 12 isn't good enough. Today was a great opportunity for us to get three points and stay in the play-off pack."

Peters added: "We will never have a better chance of making the play-offs. We are in an excellent position and that's what's really annoying when we get performances from players like we have today.

"There's a real momentum about the club this season. It's picked up in all areas - like at the social club and with sponsorship - and the board and all the supporters and helpers are so enthusiastic, urging us to do it.

"That's why we must turn things around - and bringing in fresh faces is the way to do it. We need some new blood to spark things again."

A left-sided player from Swindon Town may be one of the new arrivals this week, after Howe and Peters watched him play for the Robins' reserves on Tuesday and were impressed.

Although their efforts to bring players in have been thwarted on five occasions in recent months, Peters thinks they will act in time to prevent Town's season from trailing off.

He added: "We've 45 points still to play for, and 73 is normally the average for a top-five spot. So we need to pick up at least another 30 points from our last 15 games to do it."