A DISILLUSIONED Graeme West has launched a broadside at Widnes following his sacking by the club on Wednesday.

The board took the decision to end West's year-long reign in the wake of a string of defeats, culminating in the home humiliation by Hull Kingston Rovers.

Graeme told the World: "I feel as though I have been let down by the club. They didn't even tell me to my face, they phoned me after the meeting - West

But some people deal like that.

"It makes you wonder whether you would want to coach a top or first division club again."

Graeme thought that some of the team should share the blame saying "one or two of the players have got to take a good look at themselves."

But he did single out Craig Makin as one whose efforts had been exemplary:

"He gave me everything he had, but one or two haven't done that," he said.

"The club probably expected it to happen this year, but I told them at the start when things were going well not to get carried away, because other clubs had more money.

"I can understand the people if one or two got upset but, at the beginning of the year, we only had a month to change our whole team around and on less money than everybody else.

Graeme was surprised by the decision because previous meetings with the chairman and fans had been positive.

"I had to get rid of Tane (Manihera). They told me I had to get the wage bill down," he said.

"I had a two-year contract and they fire me. It makes you wonder who's next.

"I can understand their disappointment at the Hull game, but I must say I was so disappointed myself that I locked the players in the dressing room on Tuesday night and went through everything from top to bottom."

On a positive note, Graeme said: "I would like to thank the spectators and all the staff. They are a good lot of fans there."

Chairman Tony Chambers blamed the sacking on Widnes' poor league form.

He said: "The board was very appreciative of all the time and effort Graeme put in, but we have to judge it on results rather than time and effort."

Mr Chambers said nobody had been lined up to take Graeme's place and said caretaker boss, Alliance team coach Colin Whitfield, was in contention for the job on a permanent basis.

Auto Quest, announcing sponsorship of the stadium back in February, handed £100,000 to Graeme West over 10 years.

"We hope that Auto Quest continue to support the club," said Mr Chambers.

He added that the playing staff would not be assessed until the close season, and that they had the remaining games of the season to prove their worth.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.