Cooper Slams Players Who Aren't Doing Enough

Hartlepool United boss Neale Cooper has slammed players who aren't doing enough for the club.

Cooper did not name any particular players, but said in the wake of Pools' 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield that a number of his squad were not performing at an acceptable level.

''This is the time of year when players are being told that they are being released from other clubs. For me, there are ones here who aren't doing much for the club.

''I think you need to have freshness and competition. You need boys to know if they aren't performing then there is someone waiting in the wings.

''There's not a lot of options for me is there?''

The former Gillingham boss bemoaned his lack of options and said that there was only so much he could do.

''There's not a lot to change. On Saturday I see positive for an hour and then negative for half an hour. But that's the way it is at the moment. We don't have out and out wingers and I like to play that way and create.

''I can shout and rant and rave on the side, but it's got to be positive and the players need to do it themselves on the pitch.

''It's not worth blowing up in the changing room - they know what should have happened and the reaction has to be better. he told the Mail.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.