POSH LATEST: Losing Darragh would be a disaster

MacAnthony has stunned Posh fans by giving himself an ultimatum of promotion within 18 months or he will seek to sell the club.

And Westley said: “I do think he’s serious because I’ve never known him put anything in the public domain that isn’t true.

“But he isn’t saying he wants to sell the club, he’s saying he wants to win promotion.

“I love that sort of pressure. Why shouldn’t you have targets? Sometimes, expecially when you are a young player, you need bold statements to make you concentrate your mind.

“Darragh is far too good to let go. He is a great chairman and he’s a proven winner. I enjoy working with him.

“If he did ever try and leave I would make sure I tried to talk him out of it. I would talk to the board and make sure he didn’t go through with it.

“Anyway the easiest way to make sure the chairman stays is to win promotion so that’s what we will do!”

The Posh promotion push takes them to Millwall on Saturday (February 20) for a clash with one of their main play-off rivals.

Westley is certain to make changes to the starting line-up after last weekend’s home thrashing at the hands of Bradford City.

Midfielder Harry Beautyman missed that match with a virus, but has recovered. Defenders Ricardo Santos and Harry Toffolo, plus midfielder Erhun Oztumer could be recalled.

MacAnthony purchased Posh in September 2006 and has steered the club to three promotions and a Wembley win in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The charismatic chairman has also bankrolled the top 10 transfer fees paid by Posh at an initial outlay of around £7 million

Britt Assombalonga is the Posh record transfer fee paid at £1.25m to Watford in July 2013. Posh also paid a further £2 million to Watford when Assombalonga was sold to Nottingham Forest for £5.5 million 14 months later.

Top 10 Posh transfer fees paid

Britt Assombalonga (£1,250,000 from Watford, 31st July 2013)

Tyrone Barnett (£1,100,000 from Crawley Town, 8th May 2012)

Michael Bostwick (£800,000 from Stevenage, 9th July 2012)

Jack Payne (£750,000 from Gillingham, 30th June 2013)

Luke James (£600,000 from Hartlepool Utd, 1st September 2014)

Jack Baldwin (£500,000 from Hartlepool Utd, 31st January 2014)

Ryan Bennett (£500,000 from Grimsby Town, 15th January 2010)

Dwight Gayle (£470,000 from Dagenham & Redbridge, 2nd January 2013)

Joe Lewis (£400,000 from Norwich City, 8th January 2008)

Gabriel Zakuani (£380,000 from Fulham, 2nd January 2009)

Info from Peterborough Telegraph records and www.uptheposh.com.