He speaks!!

Mills, who for the second game running declined to attend the Post-match press conference- as well as his usual interview with BBC Radio Nottm's Colin Slater, finally spoke of his disappointment at dropping to the bottom of the Football League.

The Notts manager told the Nottingham Evening Post that the players' recent performances were unaceptable and that much more of the same could see one or two heading for the exit door at Meadow Lane.

Mills, however, did stop some way short of admitting that HE too had made mistakes in recent weeks.

"The players let themselves down, they let me down and they let the club down at the weekend," he said. "Their performance was not acceptable - and it has to be better.

"I will not be throwing them out. They will be playing themselves out of the club if they fail to improve.

"They are professional footballers who are paid to do a job. If they are not doing that job, there can be only one possible outcome.

"We do have the ability in the dressing room, we have shown that already this season," Mills continued.

"We have a squad here that is capable of challenging at the top end of the table. We have shown that with our performances earlier in the season.

"But the last three or four matches - and particularly the last three - have not been good enough. Saturday was appalling.

"There were players out there who were scared of the ball and of making mistakes.

"They need to be stronger than that. You have to be able to cope with a bit of stick from the fans without hiding."

The Notts boss will be under immense pressure as his severly-depleted squad travel to Upton Park to take on West Ham in the Carling Cup tonight, with many Notts fans fearing an absolute slaughtering.