Boss Rob Smith is threatening to make sweeping changes at AFC Telford United after accusing some of his players of “going through the motions”.

The Bucks went down 2-1 at home to Northwich Victoria in the Blue Square North last night, though the visitors could easily have won more convincingly.

And Smith wants an instant reaction in Saturday’s trip to Alfreton to convince him that his players want to stay at the club.

He said: “I told them: ‘If you don’t want to be here, then don’t be here. You’re not conning anybody – you’re not conning me because I can see it.’

“‘If you don’t want to be here and put a minimum of 100 per cent effort in, then tell us and we’ll make some changes.’ We’ll see what sort of a reaction we get on Saturday, now.

“When things are not going our way there’s always about four or five who keep going and really want it.

“You don’t really get that from the rest and you’re not going to win games of football with the rest going through the motions.”

Smith was without experienced captain and centre-back Stuart Whitehead last night, though he attached no blame to the two playing in those position for the loss.

“I thought Gavin Cowan and Shane Killock were really brave trying to play football at the end,” he said.

“We asked them not to lump it second half, and they just kept going. That’s not the area where the problem was, it was everywhere else – the ball doesn’t stick, we’re not scoring, the midfield was miles off.”

Smith also remains on the hunt for a new striker, but admits his hunt is taking longer than he would like.

“It is urgent, but it’s getting the right player,” he said. “We’re actively looking – but Phil Trainer, Danny Carey-Bertram and Andy Brown should be good enough at this level.”