Wigan Athletic boss wants huge reaction to Wimbledon woe at Stevenage - 'We've let this club and this town down'
Gary Caldwell admits he has been given food for thought as to whether some of his Wigan Athletic players 'want to be here, and be part of something special' beyond next weekend.
The Latics boss was speaking after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon - a game he acknowledged his side may not have done enough to win, but 'can't lose' given the lack of quality on show.
With most of the squad out of contract at the end of the season, Caldwell felt a few of them missed an opportunity to stake their claims to be here for the rebuild.
"I think every day as a footballer you have a chance to show people what you're about," he said. "When I came in, there was a need, there was an urgency...careers were at stake, livelihoods were at stake, in terms of contracts. And that goes for everyone at this football club, me, the staff, the players, everyone.
"This was a game where...when there's nothing at stake, you find out exactly who you are as an individual...and whether you are an ultimate competitor.
"I spoke to the players before the game about there being nothing at stake, in terms of league status....and that we will find out a lot about individuals...how much they want to be here, and be part of something special.
"I’ll look back at the game, I’ll learn lessons from it, and we’ll try and be better next weekend...not better in terms of the way we play, but better in terms of being competitive until the very last minute of the season.
"Whenever you take one eye off the ball, one per cent off your intensity and your focus, this game can hurt you, and that was the case."
Latics conclude their campaign on Saturday at sixth-placed Stevenage, and Caldwell wants to see a big reaction.
"Every time we train, never mind play, it's a chance for the players to show me and the staff exactly what they're about, as a footballer and as a person," he said.
"We’ll pick a team accordingly, which will be equipped to go to Stevenage and win. And they’d better be ready for Stevenage, because it's one of the toughest places to go in the division.
"They’re still fighting for the play-offs, they compete, they run, they’ve had an incredible season, and they've massively overachieved.
"Every team that goes down there has to be ready for a huge fight, and I have to find those players this week, that’s ready to go and do that."
It certainly wasn't the way Caldwell and Latics wanted to sign off the home campaign for the summer.
"The fans haven't had what they should get...in terms of what they give to this football club," he added. "They need a team that competes higher up this league, a team that plays in the identity of this town, which will fight and run and compete.
"Too often this season, we haven't done that as a team, and we've let this club and this town down.
"Next year, and this summer, it's my job to make sure the squad - as it changes and evolves - is one the club and the town can be proud of...and I'll be working extremely hard to try to achieve that."