POSH LATEST: Further player sales likely, but that won't de-rail a promotion push

Posh manager Graham Westley, alongside Posh players (from left) Harry Beautyman, Chris Forrester and Erhun Oztumer at last night's Posh event. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Westley and his entire first-team squad were present at the ABAX Stadium to take questions from supporters at an event arranged to promote season ticket sales and raise money for the Chris Turner Statue fund.

Westley fielded most of the questions and praised the ability and commitment of his squad, and asked fans to trust him and his staff to organise a concerted push for promotion next season even if key men are sold. He also quashed specualtion that he would one day invest financially in the club.

“One of the skills in building a squad is to make sure there is cover for every player in it,” Westley stated. “You can lose important players at any stage thorugh injury as well as a transfer, but it’s up to the management to find a way of coping.

“One of the reasons good, young players come to us is because they know we will not stand in their way should a bigger club come in and make an offer acceptable to us. I knew what I was buying into when I signed up here and selling players in the future is very likely to happen.

“But if squad-building is done right, then any player who leaves the squad can be replaced from within.

“I have a lot of confidence in the current squad. I would urge anyone considering buying a season ticket to trust me, my sensational staff and the players having the ability to push for promotion. All the ingredients are there.

“My own motivation is to win the trophies as a manager I didn’t win as a player. I feel embarrassed, humiliated even, when I lose football matches.

“I have no intention of investing in the football club. I have run successful businesses in the past, but I’m not an investor in a football club. I want to be a successful football manager.”

Westley, who disclosed his managerial inspiration was Brian Clough, also revealed he has been trying out new formations in training. He claimed his squad put on the most impressive training performance he’d ever seen yesterday.

Westley won praise from fans for being a ‘people person’, most notably when meeting and greeting fans inside grounds before home and away matches.

Negative press, regular changes to the Posh starting line-up and players playing out of position were also all discussed.

Over 100 supporters attended the event.