Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin says players should reimburse fans after 'absolutely disgraceful' performance in FA Cup defeat at Needham Market

Hakan Hayrettin described Maidstone’s performance in their FA Cup exit at Needham Market as “absolutely disgraceful” and said fans deserved their money back.

He challenged his players to reimburse away supporters following yesterday’s 1-0 defeat as United missed out on a place in the First Round for the third successive season.

The Marketmen play two levels below Hayrettin’s National League side in Southern Premier Central.

An upset was there for the taking and they delivered, courtesy of Luke Ingram’s ninth-minute goal, with Maidstone rarely looking like getting back into the tie.

“We didn’t do anything to hurt them,” said Hayrettin.

“We hit the post or the crossbar (from a Regan Booty free-kick) but we had three shots in the whole game.

“The instruction was start quick, start early.

“I can’t defend that. Usually I can come out here and defend a lot of things but I can’t defend that. That was woeful.

“When we lose I’ll give you an honest assessment.

“We were absolutely disgraceful today, and I mean that, and the supporters deserve better.

“Usually I can come out here and say the truth and say what I think because they’ve given it a go but we didn’t really give it a go today.”

Not for the first time this season, there was a lengthy discussion in the dressing room as Hayrettin delivered a few home truths.

He said the defeat was “down to me” but in terms of preparation there was little else he could do.

There must have been 200-or-so Stones fans in Suffolk and the manager feels they deserve their money back.

He said: “We prepared the players correctly, we did everything the right way, we told them what to expect and that’s the response we got.

“They’re distraught because they’ve let me down.

“You should have thought about