STEVE Brown may quit as Pickering Town's manager after their poor start to the season.

"The buck stops with me," said Brown, who has told his players and the Pikes' committee that he is considering his position.

Brown will remain in charge but has suggested it might be time for the club to bring in someone else as manager.

He and the club committee will be reviewing the situation over the next few weeks.

After his side's defeat at Long Eaton United -- the second loss on the bounce - he felt some of his players had shown a lack of appetite and described their display as 'soulless'.

"We are not performing near our potential. We need to sit down and see why. Is it because the players don't want to play for me?" said Brown.

"Some of the players are not playing the game as it should be played. There's no effort and no passion.

"No disrespect to the two teams we have played (Shirebrook and Long Eaton), but I think they were average sides and we've got beaten playing poorly."

Brown's workload at the Recreation Ground is increasing. After coach Richard Rose left he is also in charge of their reserve and Under-19 squads.

He has also taken on an an expanded role in his family's racehorse business. He is married to trainer Julie Camacho.

He admitted: "Losing Richard had meant I've had lots more to do with 40-odd players to look after. But Shaun (McGinty) and Clive (Reynolds) have been excellent and I've had the support of the committee."

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, September 01, 2004