Ledley King has warned his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates that they must improve or face the realistic prospect of relegation.

Last night Harry Redknapp questioned whether the squad he has inherited possesses sufficient character to fight a successful relegation battle after they produced an insipid performance to lose 1-0 to Wigan Athletic. Tottenham are entrenched in the bottom three, behind Stoke City and only two points above Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion.

King, who played his first full 90 minutes since Boxing Day, is in no doubt of the challenge facing his team.

"We have to improve, otherwise we will go down. It is simple," the Tottenham captain said. "We need people to stand up and fight for each other, and be counted as men and as players.

"That has not been happening enough, which is why we find ourselves in this position."

King added: "We are not playing well away from home, but when that happens, you have to work hard and maintain your focus.We are conceding late goals because of a lack of concentration.

"We are switching off, and that sums us up at the moment."