DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) - Borussia Dortmund manager Bert van Marwijk has been full of quips this season but on Saturday there was no room for jokes as he turned on his underperforming stars after Dortmund's 1-0 defeat by Kaiserslautern.
The reverse leaves 1997 Champions League victors Dortmund, who have only won three games this season, just three points away from the relegation zone in 14th spot.
Dutchman van Marwijk, 52, was infuriated by what he regarded as a lack of effort from his so-called star players and called for summit talks with new president Reinhard Rauball.
"We have players who can make the difference but they did not do so," raged van Marwijk. "The 17-year-old Marc Kruska was our best player. That says it all.
"I will not name the players but they know who they are as I told them in the dressing room."
Borussia's loyal fans have already made their discontent known blocking the gates at the Westfalen Stadium in October after their team lost 2-0 to SV Hamburg.
The team bus was prevented from leaving and several players used giant megaphones to try and calm the hysteria.
Marwijk is in his first season at Dortmund, taking over the reins from Matthias Sammer, but he is already starting to show signs that the pressure is getting to him.
German champions in 2002 Borussia are around 118 million euros (147,160 dollars) in the red leaving no funds available to invest in new faces.
"I will speak with the president next week," confirmed the Dutchman. "Obviously everything going on at the club is affecting the players. Before I arrived I did not really realise the situation here."
The acute financial problems have prompted bids for Czech internationals Jan Koller and Tomas Rosicky - an unsettling effect that van Marwijk could do without.
With 14 players on the sidelines van Marwijk is down to the bare bones at a time when he needs everyone fit to fight the relegation battle.
"Perhaps I will play at the weekend," van Marwijk quipped before the Kaiserslautern defeat.
The dreaded vote of confidence arrived from new president Reinhard Rauball who knows being Dortmund coach is no easy job under the current circumstances. "We have faith in the coach," said Rauball. "He is no magician and neither am I. We have to use all our means to come through this but the transfer market is not an option."
Staying up is the only aim for Dortmund who targeted a place in the UEFA Cup in pre-season
"Surviving is the target we are in a relegation battle from now on," admitted van Marwijk.
Relegation for Dortmund would put the club's future in doubt with the huge debt and an enormous wage bill to contend with.
Van Marwijk may be forgiven for wishing he had stayed at Dutch club Feyenoord.
11/15/2004 - 11:06 GMT - AFP