Kilmarnock captain Kevin Kyle has warned that relegation is a distinct possibility for the club this season. The SPL strugglers have now taken only one win from their last nine fixtures.
That alarming slump has left them just two points above rock-bottom Falkirk, who have a game in hand.
"We're in a bad situation and we've got to dig deep," said the Scotland international striker.
"I've been relegated with different teams before and it's not nice. But if we don't start sorting ourselves out then that's where we're going to end up.
"Every week we shoot ourselves in the foot. We get a good result then we get a terrible result. It's up-down, up-down. We're in the mire and we'll be there for the remainder of the season probably."
He added: "Who wants to get relegated? It's the worst thing in football.
"This is our livelihood but last year if Kilmarnock had got relegated they might have gone bust.
"I don't know if things are going to change this year but the players, myself included, have to start realising we could end up in the First Division and the club might go bust.
"That's not what you want and we need to start realising that and put in better performances.
"I'm the captain and whether that gives me a right to say it or not I don't really know. But if I wasn't captain I'd open my mouth anyway because it's the person I am. I care a lot.
"I've only been at Killie for a short period of time but every club I've ever been at I've always cared about.
"I used to be a fan myself years ago before I started playing regularly and went and watched teams. It's your club and you've got to appreciate these fans do a lot and come a long way to watch you.
"The least you can do is give 100 per cent and I don't think we are doing it. We're not hungry enough and we have only managed to score 12 goals in 18 games. That's a record that's embarrassing.
"I don't think we get beat by teams who are so much better than us. We just seem to switch off or we don't get ourselves in front and hold on to it. That's a recipe for disaster."
