ALTRINCHAM manager Graham Heathcote is hoping to light a fire in the bellies of his players as he prepares them for an FA Cup battle on Saturday.

The Robins travel to Unibond Premier side Kendal Town looking to qualify for the First Round Proper for the first time in six years - an unwelcome albatross for a club with such a proud FA Cup history.

But if the club's players believe their Fourth Qualifying Round tie will be easy, Heathcote believes they are very much mistaken.

After watching his side concede three goals in eight minutes in a 3-1 defeat to Ebbsfleet last Saturday, the Robins boss believes his squad must do some soul-searching before taking to the pitch in Cumbria.

He told SAM Sport: "For a 15-minute spell against Ebbsfleet we looked like we didn't care and that really hurt. It's still hurting me now.

"The players have got to ask themselves some serious questions, like what do you want from your football career right now? If they're just in it for enjoyment then they can't stay here.

"We go into a battle on Saturday in the FA Cup when the one thing you need is desire and the ability to scrape through in tough cup ties.

"I've got to get myself right for the FA Cup. We have the proudest record of any non-league club in this competition and I have to get that into my players.

"If they don't go out there with a desire to create their own piece of FA Cup history, they should question their own reasons for being here.

"The FA Cup above all competitions is about who wants it most on the day and I have to say, after watching us for that 15 minutes on Saturday, I can't say who will want it most this weekend.

"It's about pride and character and if they don't show that they will go out of the FA Cup."

Heathcote also sent out a strict warning to his players - shape up or ship out.

The meek capitulation against Ebbsfleet is something he does not want repeated and unless the squad match that determination, they will soon be shown the door.

"At times I don't feel the desire from the players and if they don't show that I will move them on," he said.

"Ability is one thing and some teams you meet will have better ability than you. But the desire and determination to win is another thing, something that any player can call on.

"It comes from within and if I have players who can't find that, there's only one route they can take.

"We've got a relatively new team and it's very difficult to get the desire that players who had been here a long time had. It's always going to be difficult to fill the void left by players who would die for the cause.

"Maybe the time's come when we have to look at trying to fund a transfer angle at this football club. I think we have to look at a way that we can.

"But the difficulty of football at this level is the restrictions in being able to change things because of the transfer window and other regulations.

"I suppose there are two options - change your manager or change your players. Either way it wouldn't be easy.

"You can't avoid relegation with the results we've had at home. We are such a hit and miss side this season and it's gone beyond baffling, it's annoying me now.

"It's so frustrating for me to see the Crawley and Salisbury performances when the players showed that determination to win. Why for 15 minutes on Saturday it was completely drained from us, only the players can answer that.

"They shouldn't be coming to the club and taking wages if they aren't going to give their all for 90 minutes."