SWINDON Town manager John Sheridan believes he could lead the club into the play-offs if he had a full squad of players like Jack Payne.

The energetic midfielder has often been one of the first names on the team sheet under Sheridan due to his endless running and commitment to the cause. So much so, the Town boss considered resigning after leaving Payne out against Gillingham – a game Swindon lost 3-1 despite leading.

Payne was also one of a few Town players who came out with any credibility following a limp display against Rochdale on Tuesday night.

In the post-match interview following the 2-1 defeat, Sheridan claimed the club’s fortunes would be vastly improved if all of his players matched Payne’s work rate and desire to improve.

The Town boss said: “Regarding Jack Payne, the kid trains at 100 per cent, he plays at 100 per cent week in, week out, every day when he comes in. If I had 10 or 15 of him, we’d probably be in the play-offs.

“I shouldn’t have to tell players – they should come in and want to better themselves all the time.

“We have not got one player who is good enough to think he can play at 70 per cent. They have to be at 95 or 100 per cent like Payne plays.

“He does a lot of things wrong, and I’m trying to help him – I tell him he’s got to slow down – but what he’s got about him, he’s got this desire to go out and try to do his best every time he plays football. Some of the others don’t.”

While also waxing lyrical about one of his standout performers this season, Sheridan criticised most of his team for their lethargic recovery when trying to prevent Rochdale’s second goal in midweek.

Following a Swindon throw-in up one end, seconds later, Conor Grant was tapping in on the line as a cluster of Dale bodies sprung forward to try and help their team put the result beyond doubt while the visiting side jogged back into position.

Sheridan said: “Rochdale’s second goal on Tuesday – I’m watching them sprint to try and score a goal, I’m watching us jog to try and stop a goal.

“The ball ends up in the back of the net, and that’s not good enough.

“We went to a team that was bottom of the league and we should have been believing we were going to come home with three points, and we didn’t. And we didn’t really deserve to either.”