Barry Johnston believes Ballymena United fans should be "careful what you want" as the pressure continues to mount on manager David Jeffrey.
Tuesday's League Cup defeat to Coleraine was the latest setback for the Sky Blues this season.
The Showgrounds club sit 10th in the Premiership after picking up just one win from their opening seven games, leaving them just three points off basement side Portadown who they meet this weekend.
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Many supporters have been calling for Jeffrey's head, while the former Linfield manager recently admitted he offered his resignation following a 1-0 defeat to Carrick Rangers.
Johnston admits this weekend's basement battle with Portadown will be "massive", but says getting rid of Jeffrey now would be "absolute madness".
He told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast: "You are only as good as the players available to you, and that's being honest.
"If you swapped David Healy with David Jeffrey now, would Jeffrey continue winning with Linfield? Of course he would.
"It is just unfortunate the players he has available aren't playing well or aren't as good as the top six teams.
"They are a provincial club and it is hard to get players to go to Ballymena now. There is so much football available in Belfast.
"To attract the type of player Davy wants, it is near enough impossible. And wages dictate too.
"Ballymena fans need to be really careful what they want. If they want David Jeffrey to go and the club bring someone else in, I can near guarantee they won't get anyone better.
"If there is one man who can turn it around, it is David Jeffrey. And to replace someone like David at this stage of the season, or anytime of the season, would be absolute madness."
Northern Ireland Under 17 and 19 manager Gerard Lyttle believes Ballymena's players have to share the responsibility when it comes to the club's poor start to the season.
He said: "It's that thing we talk about - momentum.
"It swings both ways, and Ballymena don't have any at the minute. But if there's any man who can pull that team out of where they are at the minute it's David.
"He has been the best manager in the league for years and he is a winner. It will be killing him every week that he is not getting results.
"Again, the managers always get the blame. Okay, they pick the team and decide on the players. But the players have to accept responsibility as well.
"They are on the pitch and potentially have to do more and dig deep and get that important win that might set them off for the season.
"It's not nice seeing fans going against the manager and the team.
"David is a personal friend and a manager I look up to, and I really do hope they can pull themselves together and start getting results pretty soon."
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