Sean Clancy: We must prove boss wrong

Smith made that scathing assessment of his National League North side after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Kettering Town on Saturday.

The 2-1 second qualifying round defeat, after Telford relinquished a half-time lead, compounded a dismal start which has left them bottom of the table.

Smith said: "They keep telling me they're good enough to be in this team, but I've told them they're absolutely kidding themselves if they think they're good enough for National League North."

And Clancy, who is Telford's longest-serving current player, said: "I think it's up to the players to prove him wrong.

"He's got every right to say it at the moment because of the performances he's seen. But I've been promoted from this league with three different clubs, so I know what it takes to do that.

"Ability-wise, we've got enough to put a challenge in. It's just seems more like a problem mentally and a bit more desire – that's what's missing.

"That kind of aggression and hunger to score goals is what's missing but, ability-wise, the players can play.

"But I can see why the manager has said that and we can't defend a performance like that."

Smith is keen to add fresh quality to the squad and blasted: "If I had my way, the majority of that dressing room would be gone.

"We just capitulated. There was no heart, no desire, no real passion and zero quality. It was as poor as it can get in the second-half.

"We are not turning a corner. That dressing room is just not good enough and it hasn't got enough heart in it.

"I've circulated a lot of names from this club to other clubs and nobody wants them and that's two leagues below. Doesn't that tell you everything?"

But he needs to offload players first before bringing new faces in and admitted: "We have to keep going with the same players."

Telford were without Dave Hibbert and Jack Rea because of injury, while Lucas Dawson is suspended for another two games.

The Bucks' attentions now revert to trying to resolve their precarious league position, starting with Saturday's trip to AFC Fylde.

And Clancy said: "No one likes to go out of the FA Cup, but our priority now is to sort ourselves out and climb that league."

Bucks' miserable afternoon on Saturday was compounded by an injury to Izak Reid, who has a fractured ankle.