Toshack had a few choice words for some of his players

Toshack's side play San Marino on Wednesday, a fixture that comes days after a 3-1 defeat in Cyprus.

And Toshack said: "The players will say they do care and it is rubbish to say they don't. But did it look like they cared? It didn't look like it to me."

Toshack added that they "take for granted" playing for Wales.

Interview: Wales manager John Toshack

Interview: Wales captain Craig Bellamy

I feel that some of the players take (the treatment they receive) for granted - I don't like that John Toshack

"I was in charge of that team, and people will look at me and wonder what I was doing. That hurts my pride," he added.

"I'd hope that some of them feel the same - but I am not sure that they do."

Toshack had remained tight-lipped since suggesting he would "take a hard look" at himself after watching his side throw away a half-time lead in Nicosia on Saturday.

But he delivered another heartfelt speech at Tuesday's media conference, insisting resigning as manager had never entered his mind.

The 58-year-old former Real Madrid manager also rejected suggestions the squad are no longer playing for him, and revealed he had spoken frankly to them about their attitudes.

"What I saw on the pitch the other night was unacceptable," said Toshack.

606: DEBATE For all those having a go at John Toshack I question just who else you would like in charge toshacks_barmy_army

"I did question the attitude of some of them. When I went for this job, the people offered me three years. I turned it down and insisted on five years.

"You looked at some of those things on the field and think 'what have we been doing here for the last two-and-a-half years?'.

"This is a young group. The experienced players are still a couple of years away from the experience we need and I don't like some of the things that I see.

"Another five star hotel boys, here we are in Rimini now. Look out the window, if the waves are making a noise in the evening, just phone down and we'll see if we can move you over to one of the rooms on the other side of the hotel.

"We have a chef with us now who makes the food. They travel well wherever they go.

"There are doctors, physios, kit men, masseurs lugging skips about, taking equipment down the training ground and putting it down for them.

I needed to let one or two of the players know how I felt John Toshack

"Sometimes I feel that some of these take it for granted and I don't like that and won't accept it.

"The people who've paid money to go to Cyprus have got to go home to do a shift. They pay money again to come to San Marino and watch the game.

"We travel around and get paid for doing it and doesn't cost us a penny. I needed to let one or two of them know how I felt."

Toshack said he believed Wales had turned a corner following recent positive results against Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

But he admitted that Saturday's performance against Cyprus was one of the "worst he had ever seen", although he rejected suggestions this was the worst Wales team ever.

"It's certainly not as blessed with Premier League players like previous Welsh teams," he said.

Wales face Group D whipping boys San Marino on Wednesday, but such is the depth of Toshack's despair at his side's current form, he is not taking victory for granted.

"I suppose they are going to have to win one day," he said of San Marino, who have never won a competitive game.

"I'd like to think we'll perform better than we did the other night. I'd like to think we'd win and get three points.