Rodney McAree has told his players European football is "the minimum requirement" for Glentoran.
The Glens find themselves languishing seven points off second place with eight games left to play.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Glenavon was a hammer blow to their ambitions.
Read next: Dungannon goalkeeper Declan Dunne names one striker 'you can't switch off with'
They have the chance to close the gap this evening when Ballymena United visit The Oval and McAree has let his players know in no uncertain terms about the demands from the club's owner and board.
“This club needs European football, it is the minimum requirement," he said.
“We have an owner and a board of directors, who demand European football.
“We made it difficult for ourselves last year and, once again we are making things extremely difficult.
“The players must show a greater appetite if that is going to happen.
“It certainly didn’t happen against Glenavon, particularly in the first half.
“We got a bit of response after the restart, we were better, but we were not hungry enough to put the ball in the back of the net.
“We need leaders and leadership in the dressing room and do more for this club in terms of pushing it forward.
“Ultimately, further down the line, if you are working at a full-time club and the players are not doing it or playing at a consistent level, then they will end up being replaced.
“Management and staff will end up being replaced because you are at a full-time club, who want to achieve things and want to be successful.
“It’s a collective thing, if everyone, the management and players are not doing their job well enough, then they’ll be replaced, that’s just the nature of the game.
“It’s full-time football, it’s a cut-throat business and players who think they are perhaps comfortable with their feet under the table, will suddenly find that life isn’t as easy as they have been experiencing.
“We’ve now got to move on. There were a few truths thrown out when we came in again.
“The players who wanted to take it on board, will take it on board, but others will look for excuses and others will look for others to blame instead of looking at themselves.
“They must start showing the courage and determination if they want to succeed.
“The first half against Glenavon was unacceptable, it was pathetic.
“That’s everybody. I want to emphasise again it’s a collective thing, not just players, but all the staff.
"Ultimately, the management put faith and trust in the players and, if they can go out and deliver the quality of performance they did at Carrick Rangers they should have been able to deliver the same level of performance at home to Glenavon."
READ NEXT:
- Second-half goals earn Blues BetMcLean Cup at Windsor Park
- Colin Murray pulls out of BBC Radio show over Gary Lineker row
- Larne boost squad for title run-in as they confirm deal for Dutch winger
- Lee Lynch reveals future goal for Coleraine after summer rebuild
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
