Cape Town - Moroka Swallows chairman Leon Prins has refused to criticise manager Zeca Marques, claiming it is the players instead who should face scrutiny.
Read: Wits march past Swallows
The Dube Birds crashed out of the Telkom Knockout at the first hurdle on Firday night, following a 3-0 defeat to Gavin Hunt's Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium.
The result would have done Marques no favours whatsoever, with the Swallows boss under increasing pressure following a disappointing start to the ABSA Premiership campaign.
However, Prins feels it is the club's players who should shoulder the blame as they are not heeding Marques' tactical instructions.
"I want to say something, because I want to protect the coach; because I'm in the team talks,” he told KickOff.
"It's not fair! The players are not listening to what we've told them to do. And I'm going to personally give them a blasting, and I want the coach to be there.”
"It's nonsense, because everyone will blame the coach but its bull-dust."
"The coach has done a perfect job. I've been in the team talks; I know exactly what has been said.”