Boss Rob Smith has warned his players they could be playing for their AFC Telford United futures in tonight’s “must-win” clash at Solihull Moors (7.45pm).

The Bucks go into the game on the back of three defeats and one draw in their four Blue Square North outings since the turn of the year.

Losses against Stafford, Hyde and Fleetwood – all struggling sides – have infuriated Smith, and he has insisted his side need to show more desire or risk being forced out to make room for replacements.

“It’s a must-win game for me tonight, and for the players because they know that I’m not going to sit back and put up with things as they are,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how much I get on with them or rate them, I can’t just let things continue to happen as they are without doing anything.

“I haven’t seen a lot of these players go through a winter period before and, on what I’ve seen so far, I’m not impressed.

“I was willing to give them time but four games and no wins against teams at the bottom end of the table is plenty of time for me.”

Despite his frustration, Smith insists there is plenty of time to turn it around and still expects Telford to feature in the title race.

“Myself and Larry (Chambers, his assistant) get criticised for being half-season managers but if you look at our record it stands up with anybody’s,” he added.

“Any team can have a bad run but me and Larry are not bottlers and we will fight back – there’s a lot of football still to be played.”

Midfielder Jamie Vermiglio is likely to be missing tonight with a back injury, but right-back Lee Vaughan is set to return.

Left-back James Meredith is still available despite his red card at Fleetwood on Saturday, with his ban set to rule him out for the trip to Tamworth on February 7.

But Smith revealed the Bucks were considering appealing the decision.

By CHRIS HUDSON