Boss won't tolerate anything other than 100% commitment
Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson on why he let three loan players – Kane Ferdinand, Pablo Mills and Shaq McDonald – return to their parent clubs this week:"It shows I didn’t need them," he said. "It would have been lovely to have a full squad of players giving it a right good go and showing they want to be made available.
"I felt I wouldn’t be using them for one reason or another and sometimes supporters have to trust the manager until the season is over to make the right decisions.
"I didn’t feel the three that went back would be used. To be fair to everyone here, we didn’t need them.
"When I first came in I asked all the lads to sign a sheet of paper to say they promise to give everything to keep Cheltenham Town in the Football League.
"They all signed it and some signed it and meant it, but some didn’t. At this stage of the season you need everyone to give everything for the cause and if they are not up for the fight or the cause, they won’t be here.
"The lads need to know they can rely on the others and if they can’t you have to move them on. When I write my book on Cheltenham Town it will all be revealed.
"Confidence comes from knowing your mates are going to be there when you need them. If someone hits a bad cross, you can’t walk away shaking your head – you have to be there for the next one."
Cheltenham Town play Shrewsbury Town at home on Saturday (3pm), watch the full interview here