Royle hints at clear-out

A FURIOUS Joe Royle heads to the dressing room after the half-time whistle at Brighton.

‘There are players, more than one or two, that should not be here,’ says Latics boss

ATHLETIC manager Joe Royle has given a broad hint there will be an end-of-season clear-out at Boundary Park.

Royle, speaking after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Brighton, made a candid assessment of his squad.

He said: “There are players, more than one or two, that should not be here.”

Royle had evaluated the strengths and weaknesses in the playing staff after only two games and has told chairman Simon Blitz the direction in which the club should go.

He explained: “I quickly assessed which players are good enough to go on with the club and which ones aren’t.

“Whether the finances run to that is another thing as the reality of football in this division is that most players get a chance because clubs cannot afford to replace them.”

Royle is looking for his players to show pride in the final two games of the season.

He went on: “There are one or two reputations in the dressing room that need restoring, and there is also mine as I don’t like losing.”

He also said that certain players have their own views on the game, and explained that these will have to change if they are to remain at the club.

But, due to the size of the squad, Royle admitted there won’t be sweeping changes against Southend on Saturday.

Royle, reflecting on the defeat, said: “We lost the game because we were appalling in the first half.

“We showed an ineptitude, a lack of desire and a lack of will to battle.

“The players didn’t do what they were told and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

But Royle was pleased by the players’ response at the start of the second half.

He continued: “We scored one and at that stage I fancied ourselves strongly to go on and win the game.

“We were flying and were sharper at passing, turning and getting behind them. We could have scored further goals if we had a goalscorer who had more belief as three efforts came back off their ’keeper.

“We then gave another schoolboy goal away and that took the wind out of our sails.”

Ian Westlake continues to be a cause for concern after being concussed against Peterborough.

The on-loan midfield player had been due to travel with the team to Brighton, but complained of blurred vision after training on Friday.