"Play for me and Colchester United or get out!"

Angry U's boss Steve Whitton issued that ultimatum to his players after watching them slip to second from bottom in Division Two following another below-par display away to new table-toppers Burnley.

Whitton said: "I hope some of the senior pros took a good look at our young lads.

"Craig Farley enjoyed an excellent full debut and when KK Opara came on in the second half he created a couple of good chances simply by being prepared to run for me all day.

"Young Farley outshone all the big names and senior pros, while KK's big heart and never-say-die approach caused Burnley's defence problems from the moment he came on.

"They were the only positive things to come out of the game for me. Long-term the future is looking bright, but we want it now!"

Whitton said the whole day at Burnley was depressing.

He added: "We were bad defensively in our own penalty box and showed little or no desire in Burnley's box.

"We gave away three sloppy goals again and I hope it hurt my players as much as it hurts me.

"I'm looking to see who wants to stay here now - I want a reaction. It's up to them. My message to the players is: Show me you want to be here and fight for the club.

"If they don't I will not waste any time in my attempts to bring in new blood.

"I want all of them to stay and keep Colchester United in the Second Division, but every one of them must be prepared for a lot of hard work - that's the only way we are going to get out of the hole we have dug for ourselves."

Burnley, who boast only one defeat in the previous 19 games, soared to the top thanks to a hat-trick from man-of-the-match Andy Payton which left Whitton tearing his hair out.

Whitton said: "Payton wreaked havoc among our six-foot defenders and he caused us problems all match."

The Burnley trip is one Whitton and his players will want to forget. The journey up to Turf Moor took 7 hours and a flat battery on the team coach delayed the players' departure from the ground until 7pm.

Youngsters Ian Wiles and Adrian Webster have been released by the club.

Whitton said: "It hurts me to do it, but they were not going to figure in the first team plans and these things have to be done."

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