UNHAPPY manager Ian Long has issued a 'shape up or ship out' warning to his Stourbridge players following the club's second league defeat of the season.

The Glassboys lost 4-0 at Nuneaton Town on Tuesday night as ex-Stour hitman Luke Benbow netted a brace against his former club.

It meant Stour quickly came back down with a bump following Saturday's 5-1 success at home to lowly Leiston.

The boss is now demanding much more from his squad as he aims to build a side that's good enough for promotion from the Southern League Central.

Long insists he has no qualms about ditching those he thinks can't cut it and revealed he already has four approaches in place to freshen up Stour's stuttering attacking threat.

He has three seven-day approaches in place, one who he'll be talking to this week, as well as a potential loan move on the table.

He said: "We are struggling defensively a little but the main issue is that we aren't having an impact up the top end of the pitch when we really need it.

"I have a number of approaches in for attacking players and we are working really hard behind the scenes to make it happen.

"I'll be talking to a few players and hopefully we'll get something done soon. We are also talking to a club in the league above about loaning a player as well.

"It's just a shame we won't be able to change much before the weekend. I won't hesitate to change it and bring in new players if that's what we need.

"We've been saying for a while that it's a work in progress but that doesn't cut it anymore. We've had enough games now and I've rotated it enough to try and find solutions but we're still not quite good enough.

"The players also need to take responsibility and pride for their own fitness a little more. We have some players that are overweight and not working hard enough when they're away from the club.

"They need to shape up and will need to show a reaction to that defeat now.

"Players like Brad Birch and Tom Tonks will come into it because you know exactly what you get from them."

On the Nuneaton game, he added: "It was strange because I thought it was one of our better first halves. We were good in possession but then it was a case of two penalty decision that have changed things.

"They got a soft one and we should have been given one but the ref said it was outside the box. It's clear it was a penalty all day long. Greg Mills was actually standing in the box at the time when he was shoved. As soon as he blows I thought it's a penalty. It didn't even cross my mind he would say it was outside the box.

Even being 2-0 down at half time I thought there was plenty in the game for us to think we can get something out of it.

"They have then got a couple more as we're are pushing for a way back into it.

"So I think the scoreline doesn't really tell the full story but it does show us where we need to improve.

"I know exactly what we are lacking and need to fix it quickly."

Stour now face Coalville Town away in the FA Cup second qualifying round this Saturday.