Craig Hemmings admits Preston North End's end to the season was 'totally unacceptable'

Preston North End chairman Craig Hemmings has described the end to the season as ‘completely unacceptable’ - but taken encouragement from the Lilywhites’ 10th placed finish.

The Lilywhites lost their final five matches of the league campaign, without scoring a goal. After 41 games, North End were in the hunt for a play-off place but defeat to Norwich City - at Deepdale - crushed those hopes. PNE started the season extremely well, picking up 20 points from the first eight games.

A dismal run of form then followed, as Ryan Lowe’s side took 15 points from a possible 54. However, a win over Bristol City - in mid-January - sparked a revival and PNE won seven of their next 12, losing just two. Ultimately, the season would fizzle out - and Hemmings has now assessed the campaign, in the form of an update on the club website.

He said: ‘As another tough Championship football season ends, like a lot of the PNE fans, I have mixed emotions. We had the high of the amazing beginning to the season, unbeaten in the first eight games, our best ever start. This was followed by the low of the Autumn slump and then the return to good form post-Christmas.

‘Had I written this overview with five games to go, when we had an outside chance of a place in the Play-Offs, I would have been upbeat about our overall season and the progress we’ve made. Unfortunately, the results in our last five games were totally unacceptable. The end of the season therefore leaves me with the feeling of disappointment.

‘The players, the manager, coaches, and everyone at the club feel like we have let the fans down - that ultimately, we should have done better. Even though we did manage to finish 10th in the league, I believe we should have mounted a better challenge for a Play-Off place - and we absolutely should have ended the season with more points.

‘For this I am as disappointed as any other fan. When I put emotion to one side, I can appreciate that finishing in 10th position is an achievement. Rest assured though, when each season begins, mid-table is not our goal. Mid-table is not our goal – the Premier League is, but I will not diminish the significance of finishing 10th, especially when considering the fact that the Championship is one of the hardest and most relentless leagues in the world.’