Boss Terry Spillane blasts players after defeat to league’s bottom club

Redbridge boss Terry Spillane feels the players have let everyone at the club down after they slipped to a 2-1 league defeat to neighbours Ilford at Oakside on Tuesday night.

The Motormen were without a Ryman One North fixture at the weekend after their midweek success at Grays last Wednesday, and rather than call them in for training, the manager gave them a rest before the Ilford clash.

But that backfired and he believes the players have failed to repay the faith shown in them by Spillane and his management team, so much so, that he called the players into training last night (Wednesday).

“We have played some big teams, three and four levels higher and competed well and won,” said Spillane.

“But it looked like we were running on empty on Tuesday night.

“It’s frustrating and I feel the players have let me, themselves and most importantly the club down.

“My teams over the years are known for giving it their all and keep trying until the very end, but they simply didn’t do that against Ilford.

“Not one of them can come out of that honestly with their head held high saying they have played okay.

“But fair play to Ilford, Colin (Walton) and his boys, because they were up for the game.

“That is why most of these players are at Ryman One North level. It is a consistency issue.

“They have one bad game in every three or four, whereas teams higher up the pyramid have one bad game every 15-16 matches.

“I am still absolutely fuming and I said my bit. I stopped short of saying a few things just in case I ended up regretting it.”

But the Motormen boss still believes his side are capable of making the play-offs at the end of the season, and will be hoping he can get a reaction against Waltham Abbey at Oakside on Saturday.

“I still firmly feel we can get in the play-offs, there are plenty of games left and as we have shown we can perform,” he added.

“We need a reaction from the Ilford performance and it’s another at home that we should win, no disrespect to Waltham Abbey.”