Poppies players 'let fans down massively', says boss McDonald
Manager Liam McDonald told his players they had ‘let the fans down massively’ after his Poppies side suffered a 3-0 defeat at Bromsgrove Sporting last Saturday.
After enduring a 2-0 loss at Spalding United in midweek, Kettering went on the road again in a bid to bounce back quickly.
But instead they were well beaten once more, seeing their Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central dreams continue to fade.
And McDonald was honest in his assessment after the match.
"I said to the players at the end of the game that they'd let the fans down massively, and we've had words,” the Poppies boss said.
"Am I angry? I'm always angry and disappointed when we lose.
"I do feel, and I've been honest with the players, that this is a fantastic, big football club that weighs heavy on shoulders if players aren't up to the task of being at the top, and some for me right now aren't doing it.
"It's been a theme for the whole season and I've been honest with them because maybe the recruitment in the summer has ended with us being where we are right now.
"I'm disappointed, the players are disappointed but we have to stick together and take the medicine to make sure we put in better performances.”
McDonald was particularly disappointed that his players had failed to reward the commitment of the travelling Poppies supporters.
"I went and spoke to some of the fans after the game because they've travelled all the way, paid the money and they deserve honesty,” McDonald said.
"It's a tough one because we aren't where we were last season - that's evident.
"What we need to do is stick together and we have a fantastic fan base who will have to help us through this.
"The players we had last season, we don't have this season, and we aren't one of the best teams in this division.
"We're going to try, we're going to keep working, we're not giving up on that.
"The chairman and director of football are so passionate about trying to make sure we can still be in the mix.
"The mentality of this group at this moment in time is not a champion's mentality.
"There are frailties and I've watched games before I came in where they've conceded the goal against Redditch and it all implodes.
"Spalding are a better team than us, Bromsgrove no, not for me, but with the rain, the heavy pitch and them wanting to outwork us, they've done it.
"I said whoever works the hardest will probably end up winning the game because technically it's going to be one of those days where it's not going to be pretty.
"We've been lured into it and we've come off second best.”
After the final whistle, McDonald invited Kettering owner George Akhtar and director of football Fabien Forde into the changing room and spent 50 minutes with the players.
It was a move which many might find alarming but the Poppies manager believed that what he had to say should be heard by everyone.
"I've asked them to come in because rather than me say it and have to relay it to the chairman and director of football, they're part of this as well,” McDonald explained.
"From whatever's happened in the summer to what's happening now, they've been part of this, so I wanted everyone to hear my thoughts and just to make sure we're clear on the way we're going forward.
"The chairman is an important person at the football club - he pays the wages - and we probably haven't got value for money on certain things within the dressing room.
"I waited for about 10 minutes because I wasn't going to talk until they (the chairman and director of football) came in.
"The players needed to hear it and the people above me needed to hear it - and they did.
"It was a good conversation and we move forward."
McDonald added: “I said to them we don't have a blame game.
"I've managed for 14 years and in that time I've only had a couple of chairmen who are passionate and willing to help any time of the day. George is one of them.
"For me, he's been a massive help on certain things already.
"Everyone's entitled to an opinion but we work together well as a team and I've had an honest conversation in the dressing room and he's been part of it.
"I feel like as a team right now, we're not a play-off team, so things have to change or unfortunately our aspirations have to take a big change as well.”