Ollie Admits That There Is Work To Be Done

Following the Seasiders' 1-1 draw with Rochdale, the club's players were locked in their dressing room after the game as new Pool manager Ian Holloway spelt out a few home truths following a very poor second half display from the boys in tangerine.

The players were locked in the dressing room for half an hour as Holloway savaged them for second half display and spelt out what he expects of them in the coming weeks.

'It's about everyone understanding what I will accept from my players,' he fumed.

'I felt that in the second half not everyone worked as hard as the others.

'It wasn't necessarily the triallists' fault, it was some of our lot.

'I'm very proud to be at this club and the lads can't think that's acceptable. I have to be blunt with the players.

'I asked them if they thought they all worked as hard as the others and they said 'no'.

'I'm asking for the right response from them in the next few games.

'At least now they know what I will say, and what I'm not scared to say.

'I want them to follow my lead and put things right on the pitch.'

Midfielder Keith Southern, agreed with Holloway's actions, saying:

'The basics never change in football, you have to earn the right to play.

'In the first half we did, but in the second half we didn't. We let ourselves down.

'The Gaffer is honest, and for me that's one of the most important things you can ask from people.

'He told us a few home truths in the changing room after the game and I think that will stand us in good stead in the long-run.

'We can do all these new things in training, and it's great. But at the end of the day if you are not prepared to run around, win your tackles and do the basics, then we are not going to win football matches.'

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