AFTER Darlington were dumped out of the FA Trophy on Friday evening, manager Tommy Wright admitted he wonders whether he has done the right thing in not adding to his squad recently.

He has not signed any players since pre-season, when he oversaw wholesale changes.

Ten senior players left in the summer, plus James Caton went out on loan, with seven arriving.

However, the adjustments have not had the desired affect with Quakers 15th in the table and on Friday they fell at the first hurdle in the FA Trophy, limply losing 2-0 at home to AFC Telford United.

There were boos at full-time from the supporters, who have seen their team win only four of 19 games this season.

“I get offered players on loan, probably daily, and I keep sticking by these group of players, but today I feel let down,” said Wright.

“It puts questions in my head – have I made the right decisions by being loyal to them?

“They’ve got the weekend now and the next time I see them will be Tuesday. They’ve got time to reflect and look at themselves in the mirror and analyse not only their performance today, but their performance the whole season.

“Are they backing up the reason why they were signed? Are they doing their job? Can they hold their head high and say ‘I’ve been brilliant’?

“There’s been good performances, but I expect better. We’re well below where we should be in the league, and we’ve been knocked out of both cup competitions without laying a glove, or even a finger, on our opponent.”

Wright was admirably frank in his post-match assessment at Blackwell Meadows, where Quakers have won two of their 11 games this season.

He also apologised to the fans via his media interviews, and suggested his players should do likewise.

He said: “I’ve got a lot of respect for the lads – screaming and shouting in their faces is not really my style.

“The lads know I’m disappointed and I’d like to think they are disappointed. The fans are disappointed and a lot of them are angry and rightly so because we’ve just served that up.

“It’s not good enough and I apologise from my side and I’d like to think that the lads would do their bit on their social media accounts or in interviews.

“I expect better than that.

“The time for talking is done. We could talk all day about what we’re going to do and what needs to be done, but the proof is in the pudding.

“The lads will get judged on what they serve up in games.

“Today wasn’t good enough and it’s not the first time it’s not been good enough.

“Anyone can talk a good game, paper over the cracks and make an excuse. I’m not making excuses, that wasn’t good enough. The time for talking is over now, it’s time for putting things right.”

Darlington’s next match is at Chester in a week’s time, and they are at home in a fortnight at home to bottom-of-the-table Nuneaton.