FC CLACTON manager Glenn Eldridge says his players let the club’s fans down during Saturday’s shock 4-2 defeat against Ely City.

The visitors had started the day bottom of the Thurlow Nunn League premier division table, having failed to pick up a point and lost 12 out of 12.

However, they stunned the Seasiders with two goals in the first few minutes and were 4-0 up by half-time, before late goals from Louie Newland and Aaron Condon.

Shell-schocked Eldridge said afterwards: “The players have to take the blame and shoulder the responsibility.

“Apart from going on the pitch and playing myself, what more can I do?

“We dominated the second half and scored the two best goals of the game, but only because we were so far behind.

“I felt really sorry for the fans. The players let them down.

“People are paying money to come and watch us and what they saw at the weekend just wasn’t acceptable.

“It frustrates me because I know we can be a good side, but we’re always capable of throwing in a bad performance.”

For the full story, see this week's Gazette.