CHIEF executive Andy Morris has conceded that some of the Westfields players have ‘not come to the party’.

Westfields’ season is now effectively over after bowing out of the HFA County Challenge Cup to a Lads Club side who play two divisions below them.

The start of the season promised so much for the team following an electric start to the Midland Football League Premier Division and an historic run to the first round proper of the FA Cup.

But player availability has severely cost Sean Edwards’ side in recent months and Morris admits that some players have lacked commitment.

“Every game, we seem to have up to five players missing,” said Morris.

“I've said for the last six or seven years, if you haven’t got your strongest side out week in, week out, you won’t do well and you’ve got to be disciplined.

"Our disclipline at times has let us down.

“That's two consecutive home games that Phil Glover has been sent off in and, as captain, he should lead by example and not get carried away with ill-discipline.

“We are not finishing the season the way we started.

“When we started the season, we were full of expectation and our one desire was to win the league. The FA Cup was an absolute wonderful occasion for the club because it was in our 50th year and you will never replace getting to the first round.

“We had all the glamour of it and it’s difficult for players to come back down to earth after that. But you have to be professional enough to do that.

“The committee are professional, the staff are, but the players have got to come to the party. I’m like Sean Edwards – I blame some of the players, not all of them, for not giving the commitment that the staff and committee have.

“I’m not blaming the players for losing against Lads Club because the performance out there was brilliant but you’ve got to do it consistently.

“We’ve got 38 players signed on at Westfields and we’ve probably used 38. But I would rather keep it to a squad of 20.

“Sean’s job is very difficult because players, at times, don’t give him the respect and attitude that he deserves.

“Our plan is to get the best local players here but they’ve got to do it for 40 to 50 games a season.

“I’m not being disrespectful to Lads Club, that was their final, but they won’t play like that week in, week out, although they have got a great record.

“Our theme for next season is that we will certainly want to win the league again because the non-league pyramid is going to change so there will be more promotion places available.

“Our facilities are fantastic, a new stand is going to be put up, so everything is geared for success here.

“We’ve just got to get the team to win because the committee have worked over 10 years to get the team where it is.

“And the team this year have earned a lot of money for the club, so we have a sound footing to go forward. But there are a number of players who have not given enough this year.”

Edwards was unavailable for Wednesday night’s game, so Andy Bevan and Nathan Rivers managed the side.

Morris said he told them to ‘do a Leicester’ following their recent poor run of form.

“I saw Leicester against Liverpool and they were brilliant, but what a contrast to how they had been playing previously,” added Morris.

“To a certain extent we did do that, but we didn’t put away our chances and we paid for it.

“And when it goes to penalties, anything can happen.”

Morris reserved praise for Lads Club and wishes them well for the final against Hereford.

“I thought it was a pulsating cup tie and I thought Lads Club were magnificent,” said Morris.

“They fought for every ball and did to us with what we did to Leiston and Walton Casuals in the FA Cup. That to them was their FA Cup, but good luck to them. It’s a competition we want to win every year.

“It means a lot to Westfields and we’ve won it a record number of times, while Sean Edwards has won it a record number of times as a manager.

“We’ve always been associated with it and we want to play in the final every year.

“We are obviously disappointed with the result, but you can’t take anything away from two fine teams that fought tooth and nail.

“I don’t like losing, but I’m a sportsman, so if we have lost, we lost to a better team, although we did have chances to win it handsomely. But good luck to Lads Club against Hereford – it will be a cracking final.”