LEFT-BACK Michael Green insists Eastleigh “can’t blame anyone or anything” for failing to reach the Vanarama National League play-offs.

In the post-match interview that followed last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Woking, rookie manager Chris Todd chided himself for “getting enthralled in the FA Cup and kind of taking my eye off what we set out to do.”

But Green, the Spitfires’ longest-serving player, believes the headline-hitting Cup run – which took Eastleigh to a third round replay at Bolton Wanderers – should have served as a boost to the players rather than a distraction.

Professing himself “gutted” to have missed the play-off boat, Green, who turns 27 next month, said: “We lost a couple of games at the end, but it was that spell of ten 10 or 11 games that we went through without winning that killed us. We should have picked up more points then.

“The FA Cup meant extra games, but a Cup run like that gives you extra confidence if anything.

“At the start of the season you’d have expected us to be in the play-offs again, so it’s disappointing not to be there.

“Goals win you games and we probably haven’t scored enough. But it’s the whole team’s responsibility and we can’t blame anyone or anything. No excuses.

“The frustrating part is that I think we would have stood more of a chance in the play-offs this season because the teams are not as strong as they were last year.”

It was unfashionable Braintree, with an average league gate of under 800, who bagged the last play-off spot. And Green took his hat off to the Essex side, who joined Forest Green, Grimsby and Dover in the battle to join champions Cheltenham in the Football League.

“Braintree have been on a great run,” he acknowledged. “They’ve beaten Wrexham and Grimsby, so you can’t fault them, they’ve done really well.”

Sway-based Green, one of few locally-born lads in the Eastleigh squad, has another year to run on his contract, as do Joe Partington, James Constable, Ross Flitney, Dan Harding, Jai Reason and striker Ross Lafayette who has just returned from loan at Aldershot.

Luke Coulson, the Spitfires’ record signing from Oxford City, penned a deal until the end of 2017/18.

Those not on that list will be sweating on their futures after Todd made it clear that big changes lay ahead this summer.

Asked where he thought Eastleigh could strengthen, Green said: “It’s not for me to say. It’s for the gaffer and Strevs (Ben Strevens), if he’s still assistant manager, to decide how they want to play next season and what players to bring in.”

Green's former AFC Totton and Eastleigh teammate Brett Williams made it advantage Forest Green in last night's play-off semi-final first leg at Dover.

Williams' 35th-minute strike means Rovers hold a 1-0 advantage going into Saturday's (7.30pm) return leg in Nailsworth.

Following the recent sacking of Ady Pennock, Rovers are in the caretaker charge of former Salisbury City midfielder Scott Bartlett.