His side were beaten 1-0 by Leigh RMI, the only side Vics could have caught, and with the defeat went Vics' hopes of not taking the wooden spoon this season.

And it has been a season littered with missed chances, bad luck and poor football.

Facts that have not escaped Teale.

Speaking to the Guardian yesterday, Tuesday, he said: "The players have only got themselves to blame.

"They've gone out with little passion and no fire in their bellies and it's difficult to explain why.

"When you pull on the Northwich shirt you've got to show passion and be proud and they just haven't done that."

One answer could be the pressure they were put under in trying to finish above Leigh.

Teale added: "Maybe the players I've got just can't handle the pressure.

"We had a five week period when we drew three and won against Burton.

"That put the onus on the players and I said I believed we could catch Leigh as we were only eight points behind.

"The players have now got to look at themselves because they had a real chance to get themselves off the bottom.

"They can't keep turning to us to look for inspiration.

"I'm performing for the job and their playing for contracts and if this is all they can offer us then what chance have we got."

Read more of Shaun Teale's interview on our website at www.thisisnorthwich.co.uk