David Artell has told the club’s official website that he is only interested in selecting players who believe that we can get out of our current predicament at the bottom of League One. The Alex boss understands that the odds are stacked against us with 16 games remaining but he says there will be ‘no throwing in of the towel’ here.

Speaking after the 4-1 home defeat by Plymouth, a defiant Alex boss said: “I said to the players afterwards, do you believe we will stay up? Because if they don’t then it isn’t a problem, they can come and see me. We won’t fall out or anything, they just won’t play because you have to believe.

“They have to believe that they are good players. They have to understand that and know where they have played and what they have achieved. Most of them were here last year when we finished mid-table, some have played a lot higher than League One.

“They have got to believe and they have got to understand that not putting the work in is terminal. It is terminal for our season and it could be terminal for their careers because they won’t recover.  

“They are good players, that is why they are at this club and if they play at their levels then we still have a chance. If they don’t then we won’t.”