Jim JEFFERIES has warned his squad that he will not be afraid to wield the axe to turn their form around.

The Pars boss accused his players of lacking desire as they slumped to a disappointing defeat against East Fife and said that he will not accept a repeat performance against Brechin City on Saturday.

Although Athletic remain eight points clear of closest challengers Stranraer in the race for second place, they have lost three of their last four matches and have scored just one goal from open play since beating Arbroath 3-0 last month.

Jefferies watched John Potter’s under-20s side produce an impressive performance to beat Celtic on Monday night and said that those who played are in his thoughts for first team inclusion.

He told Press Sport, “I don’t think in any other games that we have lost you could say that it was through lack of application but that was the case on Saturday. It is easy to say that we are in a great position but Saturday was not up to the standards we accept and they let themselves, the supporters and the management team down.

“There are no guarantees that it’ll be their day but we should never be in a position to be outfought. On Monday I saw an under-20s team who got a great a result through no little skill but through fight and desire. The way they’re playing I wouldn’t be afraid to put them in and there might be some of the players sweating to see if the manager gives them another chance. They are boys who wouldn’t let us down as they have been doing well this season and know the club have shown them a pathway into the first team.” The manager admitted that the squad have had a “tough week” in training and continued, “The players have all come out with the same opinion as me so I am looking for a big response on Saturday. If we apply ourselves then we will win more games than we will lose but ability means nothing if they don’t apply themselves.

“They have got tonnes of ability as they’ve shown this season but they have to work hard and press the ball. We’ve lost games to bottom teams who get a lift by playing Dunfermline and we have to accept that. But the Ayr United and Arbroath games are exactly what I’m looking for and we need to get that type of performance out of them. It is imperative we pick up three points on Saturday.” Jefferies, who confirmed that Norwegian trialist Steffen Bøifot will return in pre-season, said that he has no concerns over the fitness of goalkeeper Ryan Scully as he recovers from a dislocated toe but will monitor Ryan Wallace after he was forced off against East Fife with a recurrence of a pubic bone problem.

He is hopeful that Josh Falkingham will return to training today (Thursday) after he was struck down with tonsillitis while Danny Grainger will serve the second of a two-match suspension.