Queen of the South boss accuses players of being unprofessional after Kelty Hearts defeat

Marvin Bartley is done defending his players and accused some of them of being unprofessional.

Several members of the squad have been playing video games for up to eight hours before they play for Queens.

Bartley let rip after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to part-time Kelty Hearts left South four points from the bottom of the table.

He said: “I find out the players are on their computers for eight hours leading into matches. I’ve had to go and pay to speak to someone to say this is what’s happening to my players. It’s only this week they came back with: ‘They’re gaming.’

“I was like: ‘They play games in training,’ I thought he meant that but no, they play on their Xboxes and PlayStations. I speak to boys and they’re spending, six, seven hours sat in one position, eyes fixed - glued - to a TV.

“Then they’re trying to go and play a match the next day. And you’re wondering why you can’t concentrate? Come on.”

Bartley said he was “embarrassed” after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to part-time Kelty Hearts and hauled his squad in on Sunday on what should have been their day off.

He excoriated his players for almost 45 minutes after the match before conducting his media duties.

A clearly frustrated Bartley said: “I warned them. If you lose to another part-time team you’re in on Sunday.

“I told the players that I’m embarrassed. I’m not upset or angry I’m embarrassed.

“It’s heartbreaking to watch people waste opportunities. What a privilege it is to be a full-time footballer. I’ve been part-time football and full-time and I’ll tell you what I’d rather be. But there’s only one place some people are heading. They’re full-time athletes, paid like full-time athletes and some of them aren’t living correctly.”

Boos rang out