FARNHAM TOWN manager Tony Reid has told his players they need to be more professional after they crashed to a 5-2 defeat at Redhill in midweek.

It came three days after Town twice threw away two-goal leads to draw 4-4 at Raynes Park Vale.

Reid had made a positive impact since succeeding Colin Millard but the past two results have been a setback as he wants to see his side move up the Combined Counties Premier Division South table.

“The game at Redhill was woeful,” he said.

“As much as I try to be the 12th man and dictate things from the sidelines, it’s down to the players. We have been lacking leaders – when the leaders we do have are not on the pitch, we fall down.

“The players have bad habits – we are not doing basic things that should be in every player’s DNA. If it’s not, then I’m going to struggle.

“People may talk about a lack of confidence and inexperience, but I don’t agree with that. There are 19-year-olds playing Premier League football.

“How can players’ confidence be down when they’re 4-2 up in a game? It doesn’t make any sense – it’s just am excuse.

“Okay, I had six to eight players missing for the Redhill game, but that just gives other players an opportunity to show me what they can do – and they didn’t take it.

“Some things going on are comical. If I substitute a player at half-time or take someone off, they go home. What’s that all about?

“I’m a serial winner and I’m not sure some of the players we have can handle that pressure. It’s not good enough.

“When people are texting me at 5.40pm on the day of a game saying they are working and can’t play, that’s rubbish. It shows me they’re not used to playing at a decent standard and need to show some professionalism.

“I know I do lose my temper and rant and rave, but I can’t change my DNA because I’ve always been like that. If people can’t match it or are frightened of it, then I’m not for them.

“When a honeymoon period ends with a blip like this, and people are not taking on board what you are telling them, which has been working well previously, what can you do?

“It’s a tough job and I have to re-evaluate a lot of things.

“It’s not that I want to look for another club above Step 5, I just want to enjoy myself. I came here to do that and if I’m not enjoying it, I’ve got a problem.

“I have to look at a lot of things and whether it’s for me or not.

“I’m giving the players the licence to go out and enjoy themselves but I can’t do more than that.

“We have three young lads – two are 17, one is 16 – who had an exceptional game on Saturday and were good again on Tuesday. They were first to apologise – I like that attitude.

“But the ownership is not down to them – they are learning their trade. We have players on the park who should be doing the talking.

“Redhill had a young team who did the right things in the right areas, had a game plan and stuck to it. We seemed to want to change our plans. If things are working for us, the players want to change it and I don’t understand why.

“I don’t understand how the level of confidence can drop from where it was a couple of weeks ago to where it is now.

“I’ve got some players back for Saturday’s match against Horley but I’ve also been ringing round trying to get new players in. At this time of the season it’s difficult so I may have to run with what I’ve got, and perhaps tie up some of these individuals in the summer.

“I am having conversations with players of the calibre I want because some of what I have now isn’t good enough for me. I have to be honest with the individuals and tell them – they’re not going to give me promotion, not with those types of performances.

“We need a rebuilding job in the summer unless some of these players can turn it round themselves in the last nine games or so this season. They’re playing for their shirts.”

Town entertain Horley at The Memorial Ground on Saturday (3pm) in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.