He's tried it one way - now Brett Donnelly is going to remove the kid gloves and shake things up as he looks to end Hitchin Town's barren start to the Southern League season.

The 2-1 reverse to Bishop's Stortford was their seventh in seven Premier Division Central games this season, a run that has already left them eight points from safety.

Something has to change admitted the boss, even if there were huge improvements at Top Field.

Donnelly said: "We’ve got to get into them now, they know what’s required and can see what’s required.

"I've been quite well behaved in my technical area so far this season, I've not been going too mad, but today I was like ‘you know what, I've had enough of tiptoeing around’. 

"I've tried to help in terms of being positive but no more. When things are not going well, and when you’re not doing the things, either do it or find somewhere else to play because I'm done with hoping they’ll do it soon. 

"They got that message and I think it has slowly got on board. 

"There were moments in the second half where you could see them playing with a tempo, playing with a high tempo, and putting them on the back foot. 

"That's what's needed. We're not the best footballing side in the world but we’re going to work hard and we’re going to fight and we’re going to do everything we can to get out of this mess."

Part of the reason for Tuesday's defeat was two goal conceded in the opening 16 minutes, followed by a litany of spurned chances.

There are two things Donnelly will look to get right in the Canaries extended break, no game now until September 21.

"You can't give sides 2-0 head starts, that's ridiculous, criminal," blasted the boss.

"I mean, I don't know what's happened with the first goal and then the second, the defender has not headed it away, it lands on the keeper and then we’ve got three men round the ball but their man kicks it in. 

"That doesn’t happen at the other end, does it? 

"We've had five chances in that second half and you just think, come on, put it in. 

"You can huff, moan, whinge or whatever, at the end of the day we have lost again. 

"It's hard to take but on the flip side now we've got a bit of time off and we can look for reinforcements. 

"We need more going forward, no two ways about it. Coree [Wilson] has done well but he needs help up there.

"I've played Liam Brooks and that's an error on my part because he's not fit and he’s gone and hurt himself some more, 

"In my desperation to try and get something out of tonight, I’ve probably set him back a couple of weeks. 

"But it was a risk to take, and if he scores that goal, it is a great decision by me. But the silly prat gives it to the keeper and we haven't got anything. 

"I’m a lot happier than I was two weeks ago. We now look like a side that can compete and we did compete. 

"We had them on the rack for quite a while and we just needed that cutting edge where we finish things off."