Kidderminster Harriers: Some players have 'thrown the towel in'

Creighton returned to Harriers in March 2014 after nearly 150 appearances for the club as a player

Kidderminster Harriers assistant manager Mark Creighton says some of the players have given up and are "taking the mick" out of boss Gary Whild.

Tuesday's 3-1 home defeat by Eastleigh was Harriers' third loss in their last four games and stretched their winless run to seven matches.

"Some of them have chucked the towel in for the season already," Creighton told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It's at that point where they're taking the mick out of the gaffer."

Former Harriers player Creighton, who returned to Aggborough in March 2014, is adamant some of the players' futures depend on them changing their attitude.

"There comes a time when, maybe, we sit down with them this week and say 'thanks very much, but don't bother coming back'.

"They loved the gaffer when he was giving them the contracts but they've once again let him down - they are short changing him at the minute."

Harriers last won in the Conference at Aldershot on 20 January and have not tasted victory at home since a 2-1 success over Lincoln five days before Christmas.

It has been a run which has all but extinguished hopes of making the play-offs and leaves them 13 points adrift of the top five with eight games to go.

Harriers' long-standing financial problems, together with falling attendances, have not helped.

The club have been forced to sell or release many of their best players - most recently winger Marvin Johnson to Scottish side Motherwell - and have not been able, at times, to pay the staff's wages in full.

But Creighton says that cannot be used as an excuse for standard of their recent performances.

"You can keep saying we miss Marvin or Chey Dunkley's aerial power - we do - but someone else has to stick their shoulders back and go and head it.

"I was never a fantastic player but I always stuck my head on the ball and I kept clean sheets because I had the desire to stop the ball going in my net.

"I can't coach desire, nor can the gaffer, so if you don't have it burning in your stomach, see you later."