NORTHWICH Victoria boss Steve Wilkes says he needs “dogs of war” who will “roll their sleeves up and die” for his team.

It has been a bad week for Vics after being dumped out of the FA Vase and dropping to 10th in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

They led Wythenshawe Town 3-0 and 5-2 in Saturday’s Vase tie but collapsed to a 5-5 draw before being beaten 2-1 in Tuesday’s replay.

Vics host Runcorn Town in the Macron Cup second round on Saturday, kick off 3pm, and Wilkes hopes to have added some new faces by then.

His priority is to bring in players who will be leaders within his side.

“There will be some fresh faces in for Saturday,” he said.

“Hopefully we can get some new faces through the door because I can’t put up with watching what I watched on Tuesday.

“People might have a pop at me for having a go at my players, but what do they want me to do? We weren’t good enough.

“It’s not just tonight, it’s been that way since the start of the season.

“I’m the manager. I brought these players to the football club so I’m partly to blame for it.

“I won’t shy away from my responsibilities and they are to get a better side out on the pitch on Saturday.

“I need some leaders and some dogs of war.

“We’re lucky to have the best ground in our league at Witton and we like to play football, but that’s got to go out of the window.

“I need people that will roll their sleeves up and die for this football club. We’re not doing that at the minute but I promise I will try and change that.”

Vics were beaten by a Liam Myers goal just after the hour on Tuesday after Brandon Barski had pulled them level on the stroke of half time, cancelling out Brad Byrne’s opener for Wythenshawe.

Wilkes thought his side “rolled over and died” in the second half at Ericstan Stadium.

“It’s very disappointing. First and foremost, well done to Wythenshawe Town,” he said.

“When their players want it more than yours, it hurts a little bit but that’s what I thought happened in the second half.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half. We created two or three really good chances and scored right on half time to get ourselves back in the game.

“It was the right result at half time and I thought we’d push on in the second half.

“We came out and we’ve rolled over and died. My teams don’t do that.

“It’s my job to try and sort it out. We’re tenth in the league – which isn’t good enough – and now we’re out of the FA Vase.”

Vics return to league action on Tuesday when they welcome neighbours Winsford United to Wincham Park, kick off 7.45pm.