Westley lays into 'mediocre' Lilywhites

Preston boss Graham Westley has launched a scathing attack on the efforts of his North End first-team squad.

Since being appointed as Phil Brown's successor in January, Westley's reign has been dominated by controversial flashpoints, culminating in his accusation live on television in the aftermath of last month's 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday that his own players leaked selection and tactical information to the opposition. The Lilywhites are unbeaten in four games since the Hillsborough debacle, but the former Stevenage boss has returned to the offensive, claiming he has been forced to tolerate "mediocre standards" and "nonsense". "It's been probably the most frustrating period of my entire managerial career," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I've never been used to winning so few games and I've never had to show so much compromise with a squad in my life. "If I hadn't been as tolerant as I've been, our results wouldn't have gone in the slightly positive direction they've gone in. If they'd have seen the real me, we probably would have had a big fall-out and there could have been a real problem at the club. I've had to tread carefully around some of the most mediocre standards I've ever seen in my life. "Those days are going to be behind us. We're going to be able to wipe the slate clean and do things in a professional, disciplined, organised, together and winning way. The nonsense will stop and I can't wait for it to stop because it's been a very difficult period. People don't know the half of it. If they did, I'm sure a few eyes would pop out of their heads."