St Albans City manager Steve Castle has demanded his side produce a "massive response" at Weston-super-Mare after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by lowly Heybridge Swifts.

A late goal by the Ryman One North side condemned the Saints to another early exit in the competition and left the manager questioning his own long-term future at the club.

Castle said: "I think we need a juggle up really and that starts from me downwards and we'll just have to see. There won't be any rash judgments but I have given them little dilemmas in there. But I'm not happy and it was vital for us.

"We've let all the supporters down, ourselves and me. We've got to go from this but I'm unable to find anything positive from the game. It's as big a blow as you're going to get and I don't know what's going to happen.

"That's just put severe pressure on everything as you can be well aware. I'm really down and we'll just see. There are no rash decisions but I'm not in love with football at the moment because all I want to do is win games of football in as good manner as possible."

The Saints boss held one on one meetings with his players on Monday night but, whilst encouraged by their positive words, insists it is time for them to deliver on the pitch, starting with their clash at fellow Blue Square South strugglers Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

Castle added: "I mentally tried to shake them up and there were plenty of positive vibes from the players. There were an awful lot of kind words said but what I'm looking for is actions. I really want a massive response from all of them this weekend. I want them busting a gut and showing me their enthusiasm from 3 o'clock on Saturday."

Castle is desperate to bring in a new striker to freshen up their attack but faces a battle to sign an un-named Hayes and Yeading United forward. With less games scheduled after their early cup exit, he admits it will be hard for the club to justify a one-month loan.

The manager said: "We cannot take a lad on for two games because it is not financially viable for us. We are looking to freshen things up.

"We haven't had any clear-cut chances at Heybridge. In the final third, the amount of times we gave the ball away was frightening. How I feel at the moment, the lads up top aren't good enough. That's what they've shown me."

The cash-strapped club could lose another player after Mildenhall Town put in a seven-day approach for Jamie Thurlbourne. Castle would like to keep the youngster but cannot guarantee him first-team football.

"I would like to hold on to him but finances dictate and if he gets offered more money then he might move on," Castle said. "He is a non-contract player so is fully able to leave and he just wants to get first-team football."