Graham Westley hasn’t really enjoyed his time as Preston North End’s manager. Since the club, which plays in League One, the third tier of English professional soccer, promoted Westley as manager in January, he hasn’t made much effort to hide his annoyance with his squad. He’s gone on record as saying he’s dealing with “some of the most mediocre standards I’ve ever seen in my life.” And in April after a loss he also accused four players of leaking team tactics to an opponent. Westley, we’d like to point out, is a 44-year-old grown man.
As petulant as those previous examples are, perhaps none of them top Westley recently informing eight players of their release in pretty much the least tactful way possible: by texting them. Per the Daily Mail, here’s Westley’s SMS version of a pink slip:
Lads. U are one of 8 players that I expect to have left the club by the start of the season. Accordingly, as u hve previously been told, you will be joining a special training routine pre season and will not be included in the 1st team training at PNE. Your training begins on tuesday july 10, and not july 3. I will send more details nearer the time. You are free to meet prospective employers between now and then. Please inform me b4 u attend any meeting. Do not attend the club training ground please and do not go abroad. U may be required on the same day to attend a transfer meeting. Details for July 10 will be with you in due course. In the meantime, please keep following the pre pre [sic] season work u were given. GW
I really hope one of the players replied back with, “Gah!!!! OMG WTF H8R??? SMH!!!!!!!” Because then at least somebody handled this maturely.
H/T Dirty Tackle
