Gregan’s harsh words in bid to arrest slide

PULLING NO PUNCHES . . . Athletic skipper Sean Gregan.

BOUNDARY PARK ROUND UP: SEAN Gregan is pulling no punches when it comes to assessing Athletic's shortcomings.

The inspirational captain has revealed that two meetings took place following the 2-0 home defeat to Brighton, the second of which was a get-together of the players to talk through what had gone wrong.

In his programme notes ahead of Tuesday’s match against Brentford at Boundary Park, Gregan also went on to say that he and the rest of the side must start to give the fans something to cheer about as Athletic bid to avoid relegation to League Two.

"The second half (against Brighton) was just not acceptable," Gregan wrote. "Supporters, managers, players can accept losing a game if you lose to a better side with everyone giving 100-per-cent.

“This was not the case against Brighton.

"We have since had a meeting about it with the management and I called a players' meeting which was held last Thursday and hopefully we will see a reaction to the meeting (against Brentford).

“Thanks for your support, it is time we repaid your loyalty."

Gregan's words came before a match which was played in front of the lowest home crowd for a league match since the 1985-86 season.

Athletic, under the supervision of Joe Royle, ended the campaign in eighth place in the old second division after a mid-season slump which saw the team sink from second in the table at the start of November to fifth from bottom by the beginning of the New Year.

The form at the end of the season was good and Athletic picked up 14 points from their final eight games, losing only twice.