STEVE Davis has called on the Crewe Alexandra board to splash the cash after another embarrassment on Tuesday night.

Crewe crashed out of the JPT, offering little resistance in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at home to Rochdale.

Matty Done, Peter Vincenti and Calvin Andrew condemned the Railwaymen to their sixth straight defeat – extending their worst start to a campaign in more than 30 years.

Davis says it is time to act.

“I’m stuck for words,” he explained. “I’m repeating myself, saying the same thing to the same players.

“If I can get the backing and get some players in, that’s what I’m going to do because we’ll struggle with this group. To be fair that was the best side I could put out with international call ups and injuries.

“I know the crowd got frustrated that I didn’t make changes earlier but Thierry (Audel) had played all game for the under 21s at Bristol (Monday).

“Callum (Saunders) and George (Cooper) are only young and I’ve got to protect them. That’s what I had to work with and it was a difficult night for us.

“Some of them trying their hardest but they’re finding it hard to be big and brave enough to get themselves out of this situation.

“It’s hard for the young players but they’ve got to be men, stand up and get used to it.

“We went through it last season and we’re going through it now so obviously there’s a common dominator that some of them are struggling at this level.

“As we did last season, we got some reinforcements and if I do that, I’ll have to get some out because of the money side of it.

“But it is time to act. It’s not just the youngest, the experienced players are letting us down. They are not performing as well as they can.

“They’re there to help the young players and at the moment they can’t help themselves.”

Boos rang out at the final whistle as the pressure grows on Davis, but he insists he will come out fighting.

“I wouldn’t be a manager if I didn’t believe in my own ability,” he continued. “We’ve been through it before. Last season was a fight for me and it was difficult with the group we had and what we spend.

“That’s not an excuse, that is a reason. Whenever I have faced situations like these, I’ve come out fighting and this won’t defeat me.”

Crewe will utilise their enforced break to scour the loan market for a striker, winger and centre-half over the next few days.

They return to action with a fierce derby against Port Vale looming at Gresty Road on September 13.